Chester Borrows MP
National Party Police Spokesman
1 January 2008

Police New Year Response A Well-Oiled Machine

Policing at New Year's Eve venues appears to have been like a well-oiled machine, says National Party Police spokesman Chester Borrows, who spent the night with Police on the streets of Mt Maunganui.

"With a bigger crowd than previous years and plenty of opportunity to drink to excess, there was a chance of disorder and trouble, but for the precise planning of the Police.

"Cordoning the town with checkpoints for alcohol, banning glass, and encouraging responsible celebrations, cut the likelihood of trouble. There was an overwhelmingly good-natured public response.

"The use of more than 60 community volunteers and paid security guards working in collaboration with the Police was key to success of the operation, as was rigid enforcement of the liquor ban.

"Everyone knew that if they carried alcohol with them into the liquor ban area they would be arrested - and they were.

"Family groups and relatively well-behaved, even if somewhat intoxicated, young people were the mix of the public celebrating New Year's Eve.

"I note that there were 180 arrests overnight in Mt Maunganui and only 54 at Whangamata, which had 160 last year when I was there."

ENDS

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