Alcohol-fuelled arrests and bikie fracas in North-West mar Tasmania’s NYE celebrations
Senior Sergeant Darren Latham said people around the waterfront and city were generally well behaved although numerous “move on” orders were given to drunk and disorderly people.
He said such orders helped avoid further issues such as assaults.
“Later in the night and early morning, police were kept busy with arrests, predominantly in relation to alcohol-fuelled offences around the waterfront and city areas,” he said.
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There were no arrests in the Northern Police District as thousands of spectators gathered at Royal Park for NYE festivities including fireworks.
A spokesman said there were some traffic issues, but the crowd was well behaved.
At Bridport, a trouble spot from previous years, behaviour was generally good.
“There were significant numbers in the Bridport Hotel but generally well behaved and no problems in and around the camp grounds,” a spokesman said.
Police are investigating a fight involving members of the Bandidos motorcycle gang in Devonport.
Acting Western District Commander Craig Joel said no complaint had been made by any members of the public.
“It appears from what police were told that they were wearing their colours but it looks at this stage to be a dispute among themselves,” he said.
He said members of the gang left the area in a white van which had been damaged.
Tasmania was on track late yesterday for a fatality free Christmas-New Year period on the state’s roads.
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Operation Crossroads spokesman Luke Moore said it was pleasing that there were no fatalities although there had been seven serious crashes, compared with six last year.
The national Christmas road toll reporting period concluded at midnight last night.
Tasmania’s situation compared with carnage on interstate roads, with more than 20 people killed in New South Wales alone.
Acting Inspector Moore said a total of 29,313 random drug and alcohol tests had been conducted during the period, with 76 drivers charged with drink-driving offences, 55 with positive oral fluid tests, 1219 speeding infringements, 83 inattentive driving infringements, 51 mobile phone offences, and 90 motorists charged for failing to wear a seat belt.
Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said there had been 36 deaths and 263 serious injuries on Tasmanian roads in 2017. “This is the same number of fatalities and 19 fewer serious injuries than 2016, and compares with the five-year average (2012-2016) of 33.6 fatalities and 302.4 serious injuries,” he said.