Dunedin police are disappointed with the behaviour of students in north Dunedin last night.
"Police were pelted with bottles, bricks and bicycle parts", said Dunedin Area Commander Inspector Dave Campbell. "Officers were forced to put on helmets and other protective clothing," he said.
One officer was hit in the head with a bottle which caused him to collapse to the ground. Fortunately he was wearing a helmet at the time which saved him from serious injury.
Police took two hours to disperse the crowd in excess of 600 people and had to use pepper spray and shields. A significant number of bottles were thrown at officers from the flats in Castle Street.
Several furniture and other rubbish fires were lit in Castle and Leith streets, and one Undie 500 car was tipped on it's side as the crowd was being dispersed by police.
Two or three civilians were injured by flying bottles and had to be taken away by ambulance for treatment.
Approximately 20 people were arrested on various charges ranging from disorderly behaviour and breaching the liquor ban to wilfully setting fire to property. Most of those arrested attend Otago University.
The disorder was restricted to three blocks of Castle Street.
ENDS
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