Police kept busy after mask parade

Police arrested nine people and issued numerous liquor infringement notices following the annual Mask Parade in Nelson on Friday evening.

Nine youths aged between 14 and 18 were arrested for disorder offending between 6:30pm and midnight in the Upper Trafalgar Street and Selwyn Place area. Most had been consuming alcohol prior to being arrested.

Police had extra staff working but resources were stretched as 200 - 300 youths congregated around the Cathedral Steps. Acting Sergeant Brett CURRIE said "at one stage a lone police officer was left to arrest an offender for disorderly behaviour and faced a crowd of around 20 hostile youths for several minutes until back up arrived". Constables making an arrest on Selwyn Place were jeered at by the numerous youths chanting "F--- the police" and an officer was lucky to escape injury when a can of alcohol was thrown at him from the Cathedral Steps and narrowly missed his head.

Numerous other fights were broken up without arrests being made because offenders fled as Police arrived. During the period Police responded to seven priority one reports of disorder, some involving groups of between 30 and 60 people.

"It concerns me that so many youths seem to have easy access to alcohol and think that going into town to fight is a good time, I wonder if their parents are aware of what these kids are doing" said Mr CURRIE.

One of the youths arrested was a 14 year old female who used a knife to damage a car in the Buxton Car Park. She had also been arrested earlier in the night in relation to a theft from The Warehouse and was released to her parent's custody but offended again within three hours. She is being referred to Youth Aid Section for possession of an offensive weapon and willful damage.

Police are also investigating an assault on Hardy Street where two 13 year old females were allegedly punched to the head by another female. There were no injuries.

Unrelated to the disorder, Police arrested a 24 year old Nelson man for possession of BZP for supply after Police assisted a Nelson City Council Noise Control Officer to seize stereo equipment at a Nelson South house last night.