Heat on festival beat
Police target underage drinking, unsavoury behaviour
EXTRA police patrols will be tasked to tomorrow’s Nightjar festival in Torquay after a 100strong brawl turned on police last week.
Police say it was a one-off incident with investigations yet to flush out the key aggressors and motivations behind the attack, which took more than two hours to contain and left an officer injured.
Inspector Peter Seel urged families not to be put off attending the popular summer event at the Torquay Common and said extra police would target underage drinking and unsavoury behaviour.
“We’ve been in consultation with the event organisers of the Nightjar and extra precautions will be taken and police will be tasked,” Insp Seel said.
“This is not something we believe will happen again and it’s not a frequent type of incident.
“Families don’t have to be concerned and we encourage people to visit the Surf Coast and have a good time.”
In a statement on Facebook on Tuesday, the organisers of the Nightjar festival said they were disappointed by the inici- dent and would be tightening security tomorrow night.
“Underage drinking and unruly behaviour isn’t acceptable at our event,” the post read. This Thursday you’ll notice extra fencing around the licensed area and further ID checks at licensed points and wristbands for all patrons over 18.”
Last Thursday, local units responded the anti-social behaviour on Bell St about 10.30pm, but it took hours to bring the group under control.
Five people, a combination of minors and over 18s, were arrested on a variety of charges including assault, riotous behaviour and being drunk and disorderly.
The group tossed bottles at police vehicles and one member was physically assaulted, sustaining a cut to his face.
Police then “retreated” and called for backup.
Earlier in the evening, about 14,000 people attended the popular Nightjar Festival at Torquay Common, which concluded at 10pm.
Insp Seel said police were investigating the matter to help identify who and what was behind the incident.
In the year ending September 2017, there were 34 reported common assaults, 95 cases of criminal damage and 13 drunk and disorderly conduct offences committed in the Surf Coast area.