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Police praise behaviour of rowing crowds following completion of World Championships

Monday 8 November 2010, 12:03PM

By New Zealand Police

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WAIKATO

While crowd behaviour at one event may be drawing negative comments Waikato Police have nothing but praise for the behaviour of fans at the World Rowing Championships held at Karapiro.

Inspector Paul Carpenter said over 60,000 people visited the venue over the past eight days yet Police had few problems with lost property and missing children being the most common issues dealt with.

"In all my years of policing I would struggle to recall any other event where the crowd behaviour has been so positive and the organisation so thorough.

"The Rowing World Championships were a unique experience to Police in that we too had large numbers of fans, alcohol was for sale at the venue, but we had no problems at all. It appears rowing fans were there for the event, not at an alternative venue for drinking."

Mr Carpenter said Waikato Police had used the event to shake out a number of procedures in the build up to next year's Rugby World Cup.

"While the focus may be on the negative it's important to put things in perspective, the Waikato has experience in hosting a number of large events such as the rowing and rugby, over the period of the V8s in Hamilton our arrest numbers generally drop by two thirds.

"This is in a large part due to a highly visible, positive Police presence coupled with the positive attitude of the predominantly family group crowd. This was replicated at the rowing and it's what we're aiming for the rugby but rest assured we will be well prepared if the crowd decides to behave otherwise."

While the World Rowing Championships were completed without issues for Police public behaviour in Hamilton City had come under question in relation to alcohol fuelled disorder.

This wasn't the case overnight with things so quiet extra Police on duty in the City's bar area were reassigned other duties.

Two overseas visitors were arrested in the City due to intoxication however both were released without charge this morning.