Distance Perth – Sydney ≈ 3 300 km

Segment horizontal du cadre ≈ 36 km

Riot took police by surprise
By Tim Clarke
January 27, 2004

POLICE have admitted being taken by surprise by a huge booze-fuelled brawl that left dozens of people hurt and marred Perth 's Australia Day celebrations.

As many as 1000 violent revellers were involved in a 75-minute battle with police, throwing bottles on South Perth's foreshore as the city's Skyworks fireworks show was about to start last night.

At least two officers were taken to hospital with concussion after being hit by projectiles, while St John Ambulance volunteers said more than 300 people were treated throughout the evening.

Acting Police Superintendent John Gillespie, who was in charge of policing the event, said today it was the worst violence he had seen in the 20-year history of the fireworks event.

"Of all the Skyworks I have been to, I think it was the ugliest incident I have seen," Supt Gillespie told Perth radio 6PR.

"The behaviour of the few marred it for the rest of us, and we are not very happy this morning. I think those people have got a lot to be answerable to," he said.

" South Perth was identified as a probable hot spot, but we didn't expect what happened," Supt Gillespie admitted.

Police said the brawl began when two drunken groups began throwing bottles at each other shortly before the fireworks started at 8pm (WST).

Eight officers who attended the scene at Sir James Mitchell Park were then pelted by both groups, with the incident escalating as police reinforcements turned up, forcing officers to withdraw for some time.

It took more than 75 minutes to restore order.

The event, attended by an estimated 300,000 people, was deemed an alcohol and glass free event, with more than 750 alcohol infringement notices issued by police.

But more than 77 ambulances were called to people injured in drunken incidents, with 54 of those people requiring hospital treatment, St John Ambulance duty officer Jeffrey Williams told ABC radio.

"We can quite confidently say that most people that required assistance were affected by alcohol," Mr Williams said.

Supt Gillespie said stronger legislation was needed if the event was to be policed properly.

"We can make it alcohol free – I don't see a problem with that, but when it comes to a special event such as Skyworks I think it has to be designated that," he said.

"If we had appropriate legislation then perhaps we could look at better crowd management."

WA's acting Premier Eric Ripper said Perth 's national reputation had been tarnished by the violent incidents.

"A minority of people ruined it for others and spoiled the image that Western Australia would like to portray to the rest of the country, and I think we have got to back the police in taking a tough line," Mr Ripper said.

AAP

Grog-ban call after Australia Day riot
By Kathryn Shine and Natasha Robinson
28jan04

POLICE in Perth have called for greater powers to ban alcohol at major events after more than 50 people were injured in a riot involving up to 1000 troublemakers at the annual Australia Day fireworks.

One of the injured, 18-year-old Daniel Bryant, needed emergency plastic surgery and 76 stitches after having a full beer bottle thrown in his face.

Another young man was treated for a broken jaw after being hit with a cricket stump.

Describing crowd behaviour at Monday's Skyshow fireworks as among the worst of the event's 20-year history, police and ambulance officers said alcohol-fuelled fights began in the afternoon and culminated in a mass brawl on the South Perth foreshore just before the 8pm fireworks. The violence continued in the area until after 11pm .

The 650 officers assigned to police the 300,000 people lining the city's foreshore struggled to control the mostly adult troublemakers. By the end of the night, 54 people had been taken to hospital, 22 had been arrested and more than 800 cautioned or fined for drinking in public.

The officer in charge of the event, Acting Superintendent John Gillespie, said the night had proved a "wake-up call".

He said it was clear the police and the Government had to devise new laws which would allow for designated licensed areas at such events and give officers the authority to search eskies and bags.

"Under current legislation, we are able to seize liquor from juveniles. However, we cannot seize any liquor from adults unless the bottle or can is open and about to be drunk," Superintendent Gillespie said.

Acting Premier Eric Ripper indicated the Government would consider introducing laws to boost police enforcement powers. "The majority of people attending the Skyshow behaved properly . . . but a minority behaved in an appalling manner," he said.

"You can't have this drunken behaviour threatening the safety of family groups."

He conceded Skyshow might have to be cancelled if violence marred future Australia Day celebrations, but said the Government would be reluctant to take such action.

"We turn out the largest Australia Day crowd of any city in the country and we should be proud of that," he said.

Assistant Police Commissioner Wayne Gregson said the Skyshow organisers may have to restrict events leading up to the 8pm fireworks to deter crowds gathering at the foreshore early in the day.

© The Australian

Fireworks forgotten as 1000 fight
Vivienne Oakley and Ashley Gardiner
28jan04

A MELBOURNE teenager was one of 300 injured in an alcohol-fuelled riot during Australia Day celebrations in Perth .

Aspiring footballer Daniel Bryant required microsurgery and 70 stitches to treat a huge gash in his left cheek.

Daniel, 17, was waiting for a bus when his face was slashed by a broken bottle in an apparently unprovoked attack.

"I was holding my mouth . . . and I realised I was breathing through my cheek," Daniel told Channel 10.

"It was just a big gaping wound."

His family, including mother Deb, rushed to Perth to be at his bedside.

"If (the wound) was much lower or much higher, it would be a very different story today," Ms Bryant said yesterday.

More than 1000 people were involved in the wild brawl, which began in South Perth as a 30-minute fireworks show kicked off at 8pm .

An alcohol ban was supposed to be in place as a huge crowd gathered along the Swan River to see the annual Skyworks show, but police said those at the centre of the violence were intoxicated.

Police wearing riot gear used pepper spray to break up the crowd. At least two officers required medical treatment.

St John Ambulance volunteers treated more than 300 people during the evening, five of whom were seriously injured.

A spinal injury occurred when a youth dived in the river, and one child was hit by a car after the show.

In total, 77 ambulances were called in to deal with injured people, 54 of whom taken to hospital. This compared with 14 taken to hospital last year.

St John duty commander Jeffrey Williams said he was still stunned by the workload.

"Over half the ambulance cases were assault or alcohol-related," he said. "We've had some Skyworks that have been a bit rough, but nothing like this."

Acting Superintendent John Gillespie said about eight police tried to break up an initial fight between two groups at Sir James Mitchell Park.

"Then all the frustrations from both groups turned on the police officers, who started being pelted with projectiles," he said.

Extra police were sent to the scene, but the numbers hurling bottles and other objects increased, forcing officers to withdraw.

Supt Gillespie said police -- concerned about the wellbeing of the public and St John Ambulance volunteers nearby -- cordoned off the rowdy group.

Police wearing riot gear and using capsicum spray spent more than an hour dispersing the crowd.

There were 22 arrests and more than 750 liquor cautions were issued, along with 60 $50 fines.

Police estimate 300,000 people gathered along the river, in Kings Park , on 1200 boats and at other vantage points to see the annual fireworks display.

WA Acting Assistant Commissioner Wayne Gregson said the behaviour of some at the event was "unAustralian", despite the efforts of 653 police officers on duty.

© Herald and Weekly Times