North Shore Waitekere Rodney

Location of incident: Lynfield College

Incident Type: Police quash would-be school rioters

A Lynfield College function that was in danger of becoming riotous had to be closed down last night by at least 20 police officers who attended the incident.

It is understood the function was disrupted by a mob of students who turned up without tickets and became disorderly when they were not allowed to attend.

Police were called to the school to disperse the crowd of at least 400 people, after the school's Board of Trustees decided to close the function down as the crowd was becoming unmanageable and fights were breaking out.

The first attending unit called for back up when it became clear that the crowd was not going to be moved on easily, and once reinforcements arrived, police formed a squirmish line and marched into the crowd ordering them to move on.

It would appear would-be rioters quickly realised a night in the cells could be on the cards, and within minutes the crowd had dispersed.

Officer in charge at the scene Senior Sergeant Matt Rogers said the professionalism of the attending police meant a situation that had the potential to turn ugly was effectively brought under control without the need for force, and without a huge number of arrests.

"In this instance the sheer presence of uniformed police was enough to put an end to disorderly behaviour, and send a very strong message to these youths that riotous behaviour will not be tolerated," Sergeant Rogers said.

ENDS

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