Hamilton police arrest 27 over disorder

File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Hamilton police are concerned with the level of alcohol-related incidents in the city, after 27 arrests overnight.

The city's area commander, Inspector Rob Lindsay, said the majority were for breaching of the liquor ban or alcohol-related disorder.

"It wasn't all rats and mice stuff though with a number of serious incidents taking place including a suspicious package being left outside a bar on Hood St later identified as a sparkler bomb and a serious assault on a bouncer outside a Victoria St bar that left the victim with a broken jaw."

Ten minutes after officers attended the assault on the bouncer they were back at the bar helping to remove an unconscious man found lying in his own vomit.

"In cases like this its a case of not what we're drinking but how we are drinking that is of concern to police and the vulnerable positions people are putting themselves in," Mr Lindsay said.

He said officers dealt with a variety of violent incidents after midnight, including a group of five men fighting on Victoria St followed by reports of two men being held up by a pair of males who claimed to have firearms.

"The victims described a 'protuberance' in the front of one of the offender's trousers, it wasn't until these victims were picked up and then offenders from another fight were brought back to the station that the victims recognised one of the robbers and one offender confessed the pair had been carrying an imitation handgun at the time of the robbery," Mr Lindsay said.

"It is of concern that each of these fights and the robbery involved the consumption of alcohol as did a series of domestic incidents attended by my staff."

Mr Lindsay said tools such as the City Safe cameras, the liquor ban and the Alcohol Accord were invaluable in keeping people safe.

"The liquor ban allows us to remove potential victims, or even offenders, off the streets before their drinking gets them into situations they later forget," he said. "The objective of the Alcohol Accord is to ensure Hamilton is an enjoyable place to spend a night out while the close relationship with council helps us ensure it is also a safe one but we need night time revellers to take some responsibility for their own safety."

- NZHERALD STAFF