Police want better security
Rotorua police are disappointed with some of the behaviour at Lakeside 2018 and have concerns about supporting the event, but organisers have defended the night, saying they can’t control issues outside of the event.
Area prevention manager Inspector Brendon Keenan said there were more arrests than New Year’s Eve and that was the police’s concern. Between the two events police raised issues with the Lakeside Concert Charitable Trust in the hope of tightening rules.
“Further investigation will be done into the agreements police had with Lakeside, as the lighting seemed to be inadequate,” Keenan said.
“The actual behaviour within the confines of Lakeside was good, but there were issues around the periphery.”
He said youth were using social media to organise fights around the concert’s border.
“People as young as 12 were obstructing the police, and some were quite intoxicated.”
Of the 33 people arrested, 21 were youth.
“There will be a debrief and talks with organisers around the areas for concern, police felt they were the default security, which wasn’t our primary role.”
“Moving forward, questions have to be asked around fencing the perimeter of the event, whether alcohol should be included and whether there needs to be some form of payment or ticketing.
“It certainly was a disappointment.”
Lakeside’s production and event manager Chris Gillies defended their efforts to reduce risk.
“We delivered exactly what we had agreed to.
“I sent drawings, a site plan, I discussed it with police and I put the lights as close to where I said I would put them, I fenced where I said I was going to fence.”
He said he was horrified by some of the behaviour happening around the concert.
“That behaviour is completely unnecessary, but we can’t be held responsible for issues outside of the event.”
When asked about removing the event’s liquor licence Gillies said that would be counterproductive.
“To the best of my knowledge we did not break our licensing requirements.
“There are more people in this community than the s*** bags causing trouble on the perimeter.”
Lakeside Concert Charitable Trust chairman Ian Edward said it was society that really needed to ask who was looking after those children.
“We had an absolutely enormous crowd, generous, warm, supportive.
“Should there be Lakeside in the future, we would love to reexamine and work with the police, to create a family-friendly environment.