Drunk teens pelt police with bottles

File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Police used dogs, batons, helmets and shields to break up a 200-strong party on Saturday night.

Hamilton area commander Inspector Rob Lindsay said police were pelted with bottles after warning the organiser of the Dinsdale party to get "things under control".

"A short time later police were called back to the address and on arrival officers were pelted with dozens of bottles and retired to await reinforcements.

"With the arrival of extra staff and police dogs a skirmish line was formed to disperse the crowd which comprised of mostly intoxicated 14 to 16-year-old youths," Mr Lindsay said.

He said two teenagers, aged 14 and 15, have been arrested and will face charges of assault with a weapon and "riotous behaviour".

"Questions had to be asked of their parents and those of others involved," Mr Lindsay said.

He said dozens of neighbours had phoned police, complaining of the party.

Police spokesman Andrew McAlley said police moved in a line, shepherding the party goers to a near-by park.

He said police hoped the party-goers would use the park as an open space to leave but some used neighbour's backyards.

Mr McAlley said neighbours came out on to the street and clapped as police packed their riot gear away.

A near-by neighbour who did not want to be named said there were young people walking up and down the road all night, before he went to bed.

"I was peeking through the curtains," he said.

The man said at about 12.30am he was woken up by shouts of "move, move, move".

He said he got out of bed to see police had blocked one end of the road off with patrol cars as they moved in a line, dressed in riot gear.

- NZHERALD STAFF