There was little serious crime in central Christchurch last night, reported supervisors of the CIB. Area Commander Inspector Derek Erasmus says that there was effective control of offences by targeting low level offending relating to alcohol in the central city, before they could escalate.
"This removed a significant amount of the instigators of serious crime early on and reduces serious crime."
Twelve staff on the Beat in Central Christchurch over seven hours (10pm Saturday - 5am Sunday) made 37 arrests for breaches of the Liquor Ban, fighting, assault, detox - and all were alcohol related Inspector Erasmus says.
"There was plenty happening in terms of drinking," he says. "There was too much but the biggest issue was that many people were already drunk before coming into town."
The most serious charge in Christchurch last night was for assault with a weapon. The offender was caught.
(A full report will be available Monday).