Police have arrested 282 people across New South Wales on the second night of the Operation Unite blitz on alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour.
Operation Commander, Gary Worboys, has praised the good behaviour of the wider community but expressed concern about the high number of ‘Fail to Quit’ and ‘Common Assault’ offences in and around licensed premises overnight.
“One of the biggest problems we’ve noticed during the operation this year is the refusal by many people to leave pubs and clubs when asked by security,” Assistant Commissioner Worboys said.
“Some of these people think they have a right to enter or remain on the premises when they’ve been identified as drinking too much,” he added.
“They want to argue, often punches are thrown and then police get involved.
“Anyone who fails to leave licensed premises when requested is liable for a $550 fine…an assault may well get you a lifelong criminal conviction and possible jail time,” the Assistant Commissioner said.
Of those arrested overnight, 58 were charged with assault and 87 with ‘Fail to Quit’ offences.
567 charges were laid on the second night of Unite.
Police conducted 19,999 Random Breath Tests on night two and booked 157 for drink-driving. 16 people were charged with driving whilst disqualified.
In total, 540 people were arrested in NSW during this year’s blitz and 1062 charges laid.
There were 40,373 random breath tests conducted and 268 people booked for drink-driving.
There were 548 arrests and 966 charges during the same crackdown last year.
Police quickly dealt with a steady stream of fights and assaults overnight, particularly in and around the Sydney C.B.D.
Among the incidents:
Six men have been arrested after an alleged scuffle with Police outside a hotel in Darlinghurst.
Officers were conducting licensing duties along Oxford Street around 2.30 this morning when they directed a group of men to get off the road.
It’s alleged at least one of the group, which had just been ejected from a club, refused to move.
When officers forcibly moved him to safety, they were confronted by the rest of the group.
Police were forced to produce a baton and OC spray during the disturbance that followed.
The six men were taken to Surry Hills Police Station to assist with inquiries.
One officer suffered a dislocated thumb and another a facial injury during the incident.
One woman has been knocked unconscious and another had her two front teeth knocked out during a violent 21st birthday party at Doyalson, on the state’s Central Coast.
It’s alleged an argument broke out around 12.40 this morning as 150 guests attended the party in Wyee Road.
Police allege two men were initially involved in the disagreement.
The two women tried to break-up the altercation when they were both allegedly punched by a 21-year-old man.
He was restrained by other guests until the arrival of police who have since charged the man with affray.
He is due to appear in Gosford Bail Court later this morning.
Investigators believe alcohol played a large part in the incident.
Just before midnight, police from the Tweed/Byron Local Area Command moved in to disperse the unauthorised gathering of around 200 revellers, ranging in age from 14 to 20.
Officers allege that empty alcohol bottles, beer cans and rubbish littered the sand and beach path area.
An unknown person threw a rock that smashed the windscreen of one police caged truck.
A group of youths then joined in, throwing rocks at other police vehicles, including a passing patrol car.
Officers remained at the scene as all the revellers moved on.
The incident occurred just before 2am.
The manager was admitted to Sydney Hospital for stitches to his eyebrow.
Sydney City detectives obtained CCTV footage of the incident and later charged a 35-year-old man with affray.
The fight broke out between two men in King Street around 3.45am.
Police were quickly called to the scene and found a man, aged in his early 30’s, lying on the ground, bleeding from the mouth.
Investigators from Sydney City Local Area Command are trying to determine whether he was punched and/or stomped on.
He was taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries, which are not considered life-threatening.
Investigations are continuing.
Officers were handcuffing the man, who had allegedly assaulted two other men in a beer garden, when the 22-year-old began struggling violently and broke free.
Upon his subsequent arrest, Police discovered the Leeton local was already on bail for an alleged glassing incident in March.
Local Licensing officers have issued an immediate direction to close the club and cease trading.
Officers from Monaro Local Area Command attended a hall in Atkinson Street around 9.30 last night.
They spotted large amounts of alcohol on tables set up outside the hall and a large number of intoxicated people, allegedly including underage teens.
The officers claim there appeared to no responsible adults present and no security on duty.
As up to 150 guests of the three joint 18th birthday celebrations began leaving, a beer bottle was thrown at supervising police.
Sunday, 15 December 2013 06:44:58 AM @ http://www.police.nsw.gov.au