Arrests plunge thanks to tough booze rules

Hamiltonians (from left) Taylor Duane, Jarrad Mounsey, Darren Chandler (rear), Huhana Whautere, Jarrad Studer and Steven Prosser enjoy New Year's Eve at Waitangi. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Tough anti-booze rules are among a raft of joint police-council measures being credited for hefty reductions in New Year hooliganism and arrests.

Taupo - which in the past has seen more than 300 arrests on New Year's Eve - this year reported just 10.

New Year trouble used to be so frequent the police watchhouse could not handle the crowds, and a marquee would be used as a temporary processing area for arrests.

Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen yesterday credited the drop to an effort to create a family atmosphere in the town centre.

The plan to soup up Taupo's image came about three years ago, after a pow-wow between police and councillors.

"We sat down and worked it through for three years."

The resulting scheme began with officers taking a "pretty heavy-handed" attitude to unruly revellers in the first year.

The "no-nonsense approach" was combined with strategies that saw police mixing with holidaymakers from early on New Year's Eve, to the late evening, Mr Jeurissen said.

"With that consistent approach for the past three years, we have managed to work what we consider ... a pretty special change."

Police were considering not hiring the processing tent next time, he said.

In Whangamata, where there were 105 arrests, Detective Sergeant Dave Grace said there was a "totally different tone" among the revellers thisNew Year.

The only other arrests in Whangamata were three out-of-towners caught breaking into a bach.

In Rotorua, Maori wardens pitched in to help quell trouble.

"The Maori wardens mixed around some of the bigger bars and did really well with their presence," Senior Sergeant Ed van den Broek said.

In Nelson, police herded young revellers to a single spot - the Maitai campground - about 5km from the city.

The campground had security guards, no glass or dogs were allowed, youth workers were present to provide some guidance, and a hard line was taken on alcohol.

Notes were taken by police from the evening and planning for the next New Year's Eve begins in the next few months.

A high police profile and a moratorium on leave meant "all hands to the pump" on the big night, said area commander Inspector Brian McGurk.

Locked up

New Year 2008 arrest numbers:

* Taupo: 10 (previous years up to 300).

* Mt Maunganui: 180 (2007: 100).

* Whangamata: 105 (2007: 170).

* Wanaka: 15 (2005: 54).