Police reinforcements for Waitangi Day

Press, 21 January 1983, Page 4

Police reinforcements for Waitangi Day

PA Wellington Police reinforcements will be sent to Waitangi for the Waitangi Day celebrations on February 6. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr K. D. Thompson, said he considered that the steps the police were taking could be adequate but he would not be specific. He said that the police response to demonstrations would be at the level dictated by the circumstances. “To this end those who

wish to express a contrary point of view can greatly assist by doing so in a lawful and decent manner.” i The '-Commander of the Whangarei district police, Superintendent R. P. Silk, said a separate police group ■ would be established, on a 24- : hour duty to protect the ■ nearby Pahia commercial > and residential area from wilful damage for a few days >' before the ceremony. > He said it was a “new - departure” but would mean . only routine police duties ) done “every day of the week

' in every town in New Zea- ' land.” I More than 200 police were at Waitangi last year. Home- > made bombs were thrown at , the police, the Governor-Gen- , eral, Sir David Beattie, was > hit by a golf ball, and an ■ aide was struck by an egg. > Protesters aboard the anti--1 'nuclear protest yacht Pacific i moored close s to the treaty grounds, used a loud hailer during the celei bration. i The police made 27 ar--3 rests. About 300 demonstrai tors were present.