Police have praised revellers at this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade for their good behaviour, with only a small number of incidents occurring.
But they have been disappointed by a number of incidents, mostly alcohol-related, occurring in the Hyde Park area in the early hours of today following the parade.
This year’s festival attracted large numbers of people to the area surrounding Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, and operation commander, Assistant Commissioner Catherine Burn, said most of them had displayed outstanding behaviour.
“Tens of thousands of people gathered in Sydney to watch the parade with very few incidents at this time, and I praise the event organisers for their excellent planning.
“The officers who marched in the parade said they received a very positive response from the crowd and enjoyed themselves immensely.
“Most people appear to have come along and have a good time without breaking the law, but I am disappointed by a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related crime that occurred in Hyde Park and the surrounding area several hours after the parade.”
That included a bottle being thrown at a mounted police officer, causing her to fall from her horse. She was taken to hospital as a precaution. A man was arrested immediately and is assisting with inquiries, as is a youth after an alleged attempt was made to set fire to a police horse’s tail.
Police were also forced to break up a number of brawls in the park and nearby streets with numerous people arrested for various offences including assault, assault police, robbery, throw missile and offensive behaviour. A number of those arrested were under 18.
All people were dispersed from the park by police about 1am to prevent further incidents occurring.
Other incidents during the course of the operation included:
· Two robberies occurred in the Hyde Park area while the parade was in progress. Police made arrests in both cases immediately and those people are assisting with inquiries;
· A number of people were arrested for drug offences, including one for supply;
· Some people who had climbed into trees and onto structures to watch the parade were moved on for their own safety;
· One person was arrested for possession of a knife in a public place.
The police operation comprised general duties police and specialist units including the Mounted Police, Public Order and Riot Squad and Polair.
More than 25 people were arrested, most of them in relation to incidents in the Hyde Park area in the early hours of today.
In addition, a licensing operation carried out on Oxford Street resulted in 22 infringement notices issued for selling liquor to minors.
Other offences detected by licensing officers included consuming liquor in a public place, possessing fraudulent identification, 37 licence breaches and three security offences.
