Print this page
1700 police to patrol Sydney

30dec05

MORE than 1,700 police will patrol the streets and beaches of Sydney this New Year's Eve in a bid to prevent race-fuelled violence and drunken behaviour.

But Deputy NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said there was no intelligence of a direct threat of violence to any areas in Sydney.

He said a total of 1,760 officers would patrol Circular Quay, The Rocks and beachside areas including Manly, Bondi and Cronulla.

Mr Scipione said the heavy police presence was a result of recent trouble in the lead-up to Christmas, which included a race riot at North Cronulla beach on December 11 when an angry mob of 5,000 people chased and attacked people of Middle Eastern appearance.

Mr Scipione said the New Year's Eve police operation would include mounted police, the dog squad, officers from the marine area command and undercover detectives.

But he stressed the police were not there as "anti-fun police" and should be respected by the community.

"This year we are looking to ensure this is a safe city," Mr Scipione told reporters.

"We ask that the community respect our cops for giving up their time."

privacy policy     terms      © The North Queensland Newspaper Company Pty Ltd