"The Eastern Waikato Police are happy once again to be working closely with the Scallop Festival team, to make the event a safe and happy time for everyone. Over the past few years the Police have worked with the event organisers, TCDC, other emergency services and community groups, and every year we make small changes to our operation in order to make sure we have the best event possible. Once again in 2010, as has been the case for the past few Scallop festival events, there will be a liquor ban and this year it covers all public places in the Whitianga township. During last year's festival Police arrested a number of people mostly for alcohol related offences - assaults, disorder and liquor ban breaches. We will be taking the same hard line approach to alcohol based offending this year also, as we feel that we need to intervene and remove potential problems from the festival, and off the streets before the offending becomes serious. As well as that, we will have a lot of our expert Road Policing staff at the event also, so all vehicles need to be up to standard, and driven within the laws if you are heading to Whitianga. If you are coming to the 2010 festival we would ask that you are aware of the Liquor ban, and the stance the Police take in respect of any breaches, and ask that you look after yourself and the people around you. We would be happy to have all the Police staff at the event and yet arrest nobody - unfortunately there always seems to be a minority of people who don't want to "play ball" so it seems unlikely that this would happen. Don't be part of the minority. We look forward to seeing you all at the event in 2010. |