A Police Officer was hospitalised and a youth was stabbed at the Christmas in the Park concert on Saturday night in Christchurch.

“Alcohol ruined the end of a good event” said Inspector Erasmus of the Christchurch Police. A 15 year old youth was stabbed in what appears to have been a racially motivated attack. He received multiple stab wounds including three to the face which just missed his eye, and a Police officer was hit in the face as he was trying to stop a fight. The officer received five hairline fractures to his jaw and face and spent the night in hospital.

“The majority of people were responsible and enjoyed the concert but there were also many younger people causing significant trouble.”

The trouble started an hour before the end of the event with an influx of drunk youths. Police were kept very busy breaking up fights, tipping out alcohol and looking after youths whose parents should have greater interest in what their offspring are doing.

“Preliminary discussions have been held with the Council to see if this event and other future events in Hagley Park should be alcohol free. I contrast this with the Band Together concert last month where we had nearly double the crowd, it was twice as long, but there were very few problems. The difference was alcohol”

There were further problems after the event in the Central city with Police having to deal with fights and drunken behaviour, especially involving drunk youths at the Bus Exchange.

10 arrests were made at the concert but this was the tip of the iceberg as Police ran out of staff to deal with offenders. Ambulance staff and youth workers were also run off their feet dealing with alcohol issues

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