Youths in drunken havoc

Summer brings the party season, and Rodney police are already dealing with noisy gatherings.

Up to 80 youths caused havoc on Saturday night, October 31, at Orewa Beach as the Silverdale Volunteer Fire Service Open Day was wrapping up, police say.

“Police received two calls, one from the Fire Service reporting disorderly youths,” says Orewa relieving sub area manager senior sergeant Mark Smith.

Police were already patrolling the event, but backups were called in about 9pm.

“Some of the youth were completely drunk, some only 15 years old, and many of them had come from Whangaparaoa for the event,” Mr Smith says.

“They were intimidating and threatening other visitors, and mass fights broke out with bottles being thrown.

“At one stage the Fire Service turned on their spot-lights to disperse the crowd.

“Some of the youth were locked up for liquor ban breaches. All we could do for many of them was take them home. It started to wind down about 1am.

“It was a real shame that the minority can spoil a good community event, which takes months of organisation.”

Mr Smith says youths either get their alcohol from friends, parents or some liquor stores.

Police have prosecuted four liquor shops on the Hibiscus Coast in the last six months. Mr Smith says one shop served more than 14 under-aged customers within three hours.

“Some retailers are putting profits above their social and legal responsibilities,” he says.

Police problem solving teams are focusing on liquor outlets throughout Rodney.

“Alcohol gives us major grief,” says Mr Smith. “We want parents to be more aware of what their children are doing at night and take responsibility.”

Police and the Rodney District Council have recently reviewed liquor bans.

In a report, police say the introduction of the liquor ban in the Orewa Central Business District in 2006 immediately eliminated alcohol consumption in public places by young people, especially around Orewa New World, Orewa Library, Westpac Plaza and Moana Reserve.

The report says disorderly behaviour in the business area dropped from 57 incidents in 2003 before the ban, to 32 in 2004 the year after the ban.

The same story rang true for a liquor ban in Red Beach. In 2005-06 police received about 86 callouts before the bans, and only 22 in 2008-09 after them.

“Liquor bans definitely help the situation,” says Mr Smith. “But it will take a combined community effort, especially to target reducing the supply of alcohol to minors.”

LIQUOR BANS

Liquor bans throughout Rodney have been reviewed, some times have been extended and new locations included.

Bans from 6pm to 6am apply at Omaha Beach and Muriwai Beach.

Full 24-hour bans are in place in several parts of Orewa, including the central business district, Victor Eaves Park, Western Reserve, and any public place under Rodney District Council control. These also apply for the Warkworth central business district, Wellsford central business district and Centennial Park, and the Old Cement Works on Wilson Rd in Warkworth.

Bans from 9pm to 6pm are at Stanmore Bay, Red Beach, Manly, Arkles Bay, Whangaparaoa town centre, Snells Beach, Algies Bay, Martins Bay, Te Arai Point Beach, Helensville, Parakai, and Lake Tomarata in Mangawhai.