‘No need for total alcohol ban’

Press, 16 January 1986, Page 34

‘No need for total alcohol ban’

NZPA-AAP Sydney The Sydney Cricket Ground Trust does not see the need to enforce a total ban on alcohol despite, violence at a World Series Cricket match on Tuesday night in which police were injured and 88 drunken spectators arrested. The general manager of the S.C.G. Trust, Noel Neate, said that the trust would wait for police reports on the incidents at the Australia v. New Zealand clash before making a final decision. The New South >Wales Premier, Neville Wraii, said he was offended by the

violence while the State Police Minister, Peter Anderson, has called for a full report from the Police Commissioner, John Avery. Speaking on Sydney radio yesterday, Mr Wran said the attack on the policewoman was “unAustralian” and he called on police “to get tougher with drunks.” Two police officers, including a 21-year-old policewoman, were injured in battles with drunks. A sell-out crowd of more than 36,000 filled the. ground — which is below capacity while the new Churchill Stand is being built on the old Sheridan Stand site.

The violence happened on the notorious S.C.G. Hill and on the construction site. Some police were attacked with lengths of steel and concrete taken from the construction site. Mr Neate said the brawls were isolated events and worse incidents had happened at the ground. He said the trust was not likely to ban the sale of alcohol on the Hill or bulldoze the infamous part of the ground because of the actions of “a stupid minority.” “Y&j could say that the Hill should go, but a lot of other people say, ‘I love

going out to the Hili’,” Mr Neate said. “The real point is do we want to spoil it for the people that are really enjoying it?” One spectator was charged with assaulting police after a police constable, Peta Blood, from Kings Cross station, was allegedly kicked in the head. She and another constable, Matthew O’Neil, were treated at St Vincent’s hospital and discharged. Altogether, 88 peopli face a total of 97 charges iA-lud-ing assaulting police'and

resisting arrest, but most were charged with drunkenness and spent the night in police cells. One streaker was charged with wilful obscene exposure. Police said those arrested were equal numbers of New Zealand and Australian cricket fans. About 70 police were at the ground, including members of the tactical response squad. Alcohol is not allowed into the S.C.G. and beer cans have not been sold at the ground since last summer.