Policewoman's beating leaves trail of blood

Police collect evidence outside the Welcome Bay hall. Picture / Alan Gibson

A dense 30m trail of blood baked under the hot sun yesterday as Tauranga detectives painstakingly marked out evidence after the bashing of a female officer early in the morning.

The policewoman, who was hit with a wheel rim during a riot, is in Tauranga Hospital's intensive care ward with a fractured skull, shoulder and nose. Her family were at her side.

Police said she was going to be "very ill for a very long time".

The Tauranga officer, whom police have not named, was helping to break up a drunken brawl at 12.20am outside the Welcome Bay hall, where a 21st birthday party had been under way since the afternoon.

A total of 35 police - every officer available in Tauranga - were called to help quell the ensuing riot, during which they were attacked and pelted with bottles and glasses.

Four of the policewoman's male colleagues were injured in the fracas, suffering bruising, bites or cuts.

A youth was understood to have received medical treatment for dog bites.

An application to have the injured officer's name suppressed will be made in the Tauranga District Court today, when seven men aged 19 to 30 will face charges including injuring with intent, rioting and obstruction.

One of them is charged with assaulting the policewoman and more serious charges are expected to follow after officers interview more than 100 people.

Yesterday, the trail of blood ran from the top of a driveway to the roadside footpath.

It was inside a large police cordon which surrounded the hall.

At the start of the blood trail rested three large steel wheel rims, which were photographed by detectives and carefully wrapped in brown paper.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said the policewoman's condition had stabilised but she would be "very ill for a very long time".

"She has been struck with a substantial object."

Police had been attacked with metal weapons, glasses and bottles.

Mr Turner said batons and pepper spray had been used on the crowd but only as a last resort.

However, party-goers said the force was excessive.

William Roberts, who was asked to act in a security capacity at the double-21st birthday party, said he was surprised at the attitude of some police.

"Everyone was happy until the cops turned up.

"It all started when a kid got hit to the ground. All I saw was the guy get pushed to the ground, or hit to the ground.

"His mates, cousins, uncles and aunties all came in and said, 'You can't do that'. Things just got real heated."

The police appeared to be showing their muscle, Mr Roberts said.

Some youths spoken to talked of youth gangs called Westside and Outdogs who had been at the party.

Mr Roberts said there were "all sorts" there, including some people closely associated with the Mongrel Mob and Black Power.

But he said there was no trouble among the party-goers as they were all family.

Dasha Van Silfhout, 18, said her boyfriend went to the police station to lay a complaint about being pepper-sprayed, only to be arrested while at the station.

Neighbour Roy Clarke said a few cars had congregated as early as 1pm on Saturday in anticipation of the party.

Police cars had made a few passes during the afternoon, and by 7pm a police paddy wagon had driven past the area.

Mr Turner rejected a suggestion that police had acted excessively.

In the early evening, organisers had called police to ask them to keep an eye out as they were worried about some elements in the crowd.

"They [the organisers] had done everything possible to run an organised party."

By 12.20am police received a 111 call about fighting and drinking after the party finished.

Mr Turner said the situation was "difficult and stressful" and the police had acted professionally when they came under sustained attack.

He criticised the "alcohol consumption and abuse among young people, and not so young" which was causing public problems in Tauranga.

"We [police] are sick of it."

- additional reporting: NZPA