First aid volunteers

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 3

First aid volunteers

PA Wellington A group of first aid volunteers who treated demonstrators during the protests in Wellington said in a report released yesterday that there was "an irrefutable relationship between police activity and the level of injury.” The report, which details injuries suffered by demonstrators and the situations from which they arose, was compiled by Ms" Jill Joseph, a senior epidemiologist at Wellington Hospital, and Mr David Smith, a tutor at the Wellington School of Nursing. Many police personnel recognised and co-operated with first aid teams, but others did not and this was unacceptable, the report said.

It said that 54 volunteers were assigned in groups of two or more to sections of the demonstration because it was felt, after the events in Molesworth Street. Wellington. when marchers were batoned, that first aid assistance would be essemial in future marches.

the report said that the

first aid volunteers, who included 14 doctors, a dentist, about 25 medical students, and several nurses, were "neutral” in that they were available to treat any injured. The report is made up of witnessed events and or injuries seen by first aiders and includes comments by them about police attitude's "which contributed positively and negatively to the injury level," it said'.

The report said certain police behaviour was especially hazardous and describes instances of individual protesters being dragged by helmets strapped under the chin and persons being kicked in the head, groin, and abdomen.

In its conclusions, the report said it was important to note that "better controlled" police situations where better relations were established with demonstrators, were "not less successful for the police, only less hazardous for the protesting public."

The report said that a group of police at the south-

ern end of Adelaide Road were worthy of mention as being controlled and restrained in their approach, with a touch of humour, and that this helped to reduce tension. In a description of a major incident at the southern end of Rintoul Street and Luxford Street, the report said a group of Red Squad police withdrew to the pavement and then charged as two groups of demonstrators met. The incident lasted about a minute and was followed briefly by objects being thrown by demonstrators. The main cause of injury was long police batons and kicking by the squad, the report says. However, in examples of police co-operation, a group of first aiders reported seeing negotiations with the police on the Hutt motorway between the demonstrators there, (who later moved on to McAllister Park) with positive results for both sides and no untoward incident occurring.