KEY POINTS:
A strong police presence in Dunedin last night is thought to have clipped the wings of students taking part in the banned Undie 500 rally.
"There were so many police in Dunedin, they were too scared to do anything," Senior Sergeant Bruce Ross told NZPA.
He could not give exact numbers but said many extra officers had been rostered on last night to deal with any trouble from the students.
There were 18 arrests overnight for disorder offences, but only five of those involved students, Mr Ross said.
Three Canterbury University students and two from Otago were charged - four for disorderly behaviour and one for wilful damage.
Mr Ross said the Fire Service attended three fires overnight related to student activities, one of which was a burning mattress.
A group of about 40 rebel vehicles left Christchurch yesterday for Dunedin, defying a ban on the annual event organised by Canterbury University engineering students.
Last year more than 150 vehicles took part.
The event involves students driving from Christchurch to Dunedin in cars bought for less than $500.
It was cancelled this year following disorder in 2006 by drunken students, and then riots last year in Dunedin which resulted in 69 arrests.
Officers from Christchurch shadowed the procession as it travelled between the cities and would remain in Dunedin over the weekend to help out if needed.
The big party night for the students is tonight, and extra police will be patrolling the streets again.
"It's not just the people that travel down, it also attracts local Dunedin students who join them and that's where it's difficult to assess what numbers may ultimately be involved in partying," said Inspector Dave Campbell, of Dunedin police.
A temporary liquor ban has been imposed for the first time in the student area of North Dunedin in order to reduce trouble.
Otago Polytechnic Students' Association (OPSA) has warned any illegal behaviour by its students this year could end in expulsion.
Association leaders said the event was traditionally poorly organised and reflected badly on all students.
This weekend's rebel event was even more poorly organised that the official version, the association said.
- NZPA
