Arrests as Mosgiel party becomes out-of-control

Photo / file

An out-of-control party of up to 200 youths ended in fights and disorder in a Dunedin park on Saturday night.

A party intended for 20 friends in Mosgiel swelled to around 200 people aged 15 to 17 through word of mouth, police said.

A parent in charge had hired security guards for the event but shut the party down around 11pm when it got out of control.

Young people spilled on to the streets around Oban Ave and Reid Ave and into Memorial Park.

Police said fights broke out, bottles were smashed and there was "general disorder".

Two youths were arrested and returned to parents, police said, while others dispersed when the police prisoner van arrived in the park.

Five police staff were tied up with the group for several hours.

Police said as a result of the "drunken idiocy and disorder" council staff were called to clean the broken glass and check the showground area and facilities where the Weetbix Try-a-thon was to be held.

Police encouraged members of the public to contact Mosgiel police with information relating to the disorder.