The 2016 Otago University Students Association (OUSA)- supported Hyde Street event concluded this evening at 6:00pm. Eighteen Police staff, including Maori wardens, St John Ambulance and NZ Fire Service staff monitored the event over the course of the day.
Many agencies assisted with the operation and a variety of groups and volunteers were in attendance to support the event. Police acknowledge the collaborative approach with all stakeholders including the Maori Wardens, NZ Fire Service, University of Otago, OUSA, Dunedin City Council, ACC, Dunedin Public Hospital, Student Health, St John Ambulance, landlords, tenants and even affected businesses, to ensure the event ran smoothly. Worksafe was involved in the planning also.
Those attending were well behaved and police were generally pleased with crowd behaviour. The OUSA had promoted the event as ‘glass free’ to reduce the likelihood of harm to students who attended. Campus Watch and Police ensured that all couches, chairs and other material were moved from front yards and no one was allowed on the roof of any building. The street was well-fenced off with security manning the gates.
“These pre-event measures along with pre-ticket sales -invite only - of limited numbers, helped make the event safer for all, says Area Response Manager Senior Sergeant Dave Scott.
“Eight arrests were made for minor offending, largely made up of people repeatedly trying to illegally enter the event.” “Those arrested were both students and non-students, alike,” says S/Sgt Scott.
ENDS