Police to run more patrols following fracas outside festival

POLICE will run more patrols tonight (Thursday) near the Nightjar festival following last week’s brawl on Bell Street between officers and youths.

Nightjar organisers have also instigated stricter checks on patrons who wish to drink or enter licensed areas.

Last Thursday evening, as many as 100 youths, some believed to be under age, gathered in Bell Street near the Rudd Avenue roundabout and were witnessed drinking.

When police first tried to break up the gathering at about 10.30pm, they were set upon by the crowd and one officer was injured, forcing the police on scene to retreat and call for backup.

The crowd was dispersed some hours later, and at least four people were arrested.

Police have said people should not be dissuaded from attending tonight’s Nightjar festival (the second of the summer), and there would be more patrols tasked to the area.

The festival’s organisers also decried the events of last Thursday on their Facebook page, stating “Nightjar festival is a family-friendly event for all locals and visitors to this region”.

“Underage drinking and unruly behaviour isn’t acceptable at our event, it’s not cool! Sadly there was an element of not cool behaviour on Thursday night, not just at Nightjar but within the town, both prior and after the Nightjar Festival had finished.”

As a result, there will be extra fencing around the festival’s licensed area tonight and further ID checks at licensed points and wristbands for all patrons over 18.

“All patrons under the age of 18 entering the licensed areas MUST be accompanied by a responsible adult – this means a parent, guardian or grandparent.

“We’ll also be enforcing that there is no entry into the event if you’ve already been indulging a little too much!”