POLICE will run more patrols tonight (Thursday) near the Nightjar festival following last week\u2019s brawl on Bell Street between officers and youths.<\/p>\n
Nightjar organisers have also instigated stricter checks on patrons who wish to drink or enter licensed areas.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The crowd was dispersed some hours later, and at least four people were arrested.<\/p>\n
Police have said people should not be dissuaded from attending tonight\u2019s Nightjar festival (the second of the summer), and there would be more patrols tasked to the area.<\/p>\n
The festival\u2019s organisers also decried the events of last Thursday on their Facebook page, stating \u201cNightjar festival is a family-friendly event for all locals and visitors to this region\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderage drinking and unruly behaviour isn\u2019t acceptable at our event, it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a result, there will be extra fencing around the festival\u2019s licensed area tonight and further ID checks at licensed points and wristbands for all patrons over 18.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll patrons under the age of 18 entering the licensed areas MUST be accompanied by a responsible adult \u2013 this means a parent, guardian or grandparent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll also be enforcing that there is no entry into the event if you\u2019ve already been indulging a little too much!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
POLICE will run more patrols tonight (Thursday) near the Nightjar festival following last week\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n