Police plugged for festival

Press, 3 February 1984, Page 1

Police plugged for festival

Small foam earplugs, like this held by the acting commander of the Christchurch police district, Chief Superintendent J. A. Jamieson, will be issued to police patrolling at Queen Elizabeth II Park during the Sweetwaters South music festival on Monday. The decision to buy the earplugs, costing 21c each, was made after policemen complained about noise at a recent Split Enz concert, also at the park. “Some of the men found they just could not stay out among the noise,” said Mr Jamieson. “The noise was so bad they had to cut their patrols short and shelter for ,a while in the room provided for the police. That is not a satisfactory situation at all,” he said. The Police Association

asked that something be done about the problem. Mr Jamieson thought it was the first time that earplugs had been issued to policemen in New Zealand. The plugs would screen out the higher decibels but still allow the policemen to hear people talking to them. Mr Jamieson was not aware of any policemen asking to be sent to the festival. “It will be just a normal, rostered duty, although some people will have to be rostered to work on their day off because it will be a busy week-end,” he said. Some policemen were being flown to the Bay of Islands for duty at the Waitangi Day celebrations and others would be needed for the cricket test match at Lancaster Park.