Arrests after fights, chaos in Nelson

Nine teenagers were arrested following Nelson's annual Masked Parade last night.

The youths, aged between 14 and 18, were arrested for disorderly behaviour in the Upper Trafalgar Street and Selwyn Place area. The offences all involved alcohol use.

At one stage a single police officer, arresting an offender for disorderly behaviour, 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.

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.

The Masked Parade is part of the Nelson Arts Festival. It is intended to be a day of family fun.