Police tied man up, beat him, says partygoer

Tauranga police are defending their use of batons and pepper spray to break up a party that turned violent and left a female police officer with a fractured skull.

Partygoers claim that officers used excessive force to quell a riot that erupted early Sunday morning

Stacey Trevino, whose 21st birthday was the reason for the party at a Welcome Bay hall, said police "came out two batons apiece and started going for it".

She alleged officers used particular force against a 27-year-old man who appeared in court yesterday in relation to the attack on the police officer.

Ms Trevino said she was standing in the hall entrance when four or five officers brought the man into the hall.

"He was tied with his arms and legs behind his head. They started beating him with batons."

She claimed the officers closed the doors to the main part of the hall and continued beating the man while she and others banged on the doors.

Ms Trevino conceded that police needed to restrain those causing trouble.

"We understand that they needed to detain them, arrest them, get them out of there - that's fine. But the excessiveness is what I'm upset about."

She planned to make a complaint to Tauranga police and go to the Police Complaints Authority if necessary.

The man's sister, who was also at the party, claimed police used pepper spray without regard for bystanders.

"They just had their cans of mace in the air. Any innocent person could've got maced," she said.

But the head of Tauranga's criminal investigation bureau, Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner, defended the actions of the 35 officers called to break up the riot.

"Yes, we did use batons, we did use pepper spray," he said. "[But] the police acted with the utmost professionalism and restraint in very difficult circumstances where they were being attacked with metal objects, glasses and bottles."

Mr Turner said he was "very comfortable" with officers' actions.

"The police deserve a pat on the back for the way in which they dealt with the matter."

He was unaware of the alleged incident with officers closing the hall doors and beating the accused man, and said Tauranga police had received no complaint about excessive force.

Four male police officers were also injured in the riot.

The man charged with the attack on the female officer limped and had a black eye when he appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday.

Dressed in a white boiler suit, he faced one charge of assault and was remanded in custody without plea until Monday.

Police have said further charges were likely.

Judge Thomas Ingram ordered the man's name suppressed until his next appearance.

The judge also granted a request from police for suppression of the female officer's name on the grounds of her health, ongoing treatment and privacy.

The officer remained in intensive care at Tauranga Hospital yesterday.

In addition to the fractured skull, she suffered a fractured shoulder and nose after a wheel rim was allegedly thrown at her.

Mr Turner said she would recover from her injuries but it would take time.

Seven other men appeared in court facing charges relating to the violence at the party.

All were granted bail with curfews and other conditions until appearances later this month.

The police investigation is continuing, with officers aiming to speak to everyone who was at the party.

New Zealand First law and order spokesman Ron Mark said the incident highlighted the abuse police officers were forced to tolerate from drunken mobs.

He called for a review of cases involving violence against police, saying it may be necessary to create stiffer penalties for assaults on officers.

But Police Association vice-president Richard Middleton said current laws were sufficient.

"There are pretty severe penalties for assault, whether against police or members of the public."