Police plan to speak with the organisers of Blues Brews and BBQs after a busy night cleaning up alcohol related violence and disorder incidents.
Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair says the manner in which the event was structured encouraged binge-drinking over an eight hour period and this type of event is out of line with police efforts to curb that culture in the community.

About 9000 people were at Blues Brews and BBQs.

'The effects of binge-drinking cuts across a wide range of offences, including family violence, property destruction and public place violence and disorder.”
Police arrested 19 people on a variety of charges ranging from disorderly behaviour to aggravated assault in and around the Blake Park venue.
'They also had to attend to numerous other calls from the public about alcohol-related violence and disorder by people leaving the venue.”
In addition, 14 people leaving the event were processed for drink driving.
'Those that chose to drink and drive after the event were putting at risk the lives of other road users and the community.”
Karl says the very nature of the event, where ample parking for private vehicles was provided close-by, created a temptation for those who had consumed alcohol to run the gauntlet.
'Police do not have the resources to act as bouncers at an event such as this and although the employed security did a good job in identifying intoxicated patrons and ejecting them, this in itself created a problem with patrons fighting with security which ended in several arrests.
'The potential for security officers or members of the public to be injured was high.”