Hundreds involved in Hamilton brawl

Hamilton bars and clubs are being asked to stop serving alcohol to drunk patrons after a huge drunken brawl in the city early this morning.

Police said several hundred people were involved in the fight, in Alexandra St after several bars closed about 3am today.

The fight continued for about 40 minutes, with several people bitten by police dogs and pepper-sprayed. Ten men were arrested, and more could have been caught had police had enough staff, Hamilton City area commander Paul Carpenter said.

Mr Carpenter said alcohol clearly fuelled the brawl.

"It's obvious everyone involved had been drinking heavily and that is going to cause problems," he said.

"Bars and clubs in the area must take some responsibility for incidents like this -- the fighting started when the bars closed and we would question the host responsibilities of these establishments.

"They should not be letting patrons get this drunk and then setting them loose on the rest of the community."

Mr Carpenter said several hundred people lined both sides of Alexandra St, with numerous brawls breaking out. Several were seen walking through the street waving pool cues.

All available police in Hamilton were asked to attend the incident but with only about 20 staff present at the height of the brawl, many feared for their safety.

Many of the brawlers turned their attention on police once they arrived, Mr Carpenter said.

There were so many involved that arrested people were jumping out of police vans as police were trying to put more people inside, he said.

"All these incidents were fuelled by alcohol and aggression. People have to take some real responsibility for their actions."

The 10 arrested were all Hamilton men aged 19 to 26. All have been charged with disorderly behaviour and will appear in court at a date yet to be determined.

Mr Carpenter said the brawl came a few hours after five people were arrested following a brawl at a party in suburban Dinsdale.

- NZPA