Published Tuesday, 28 November, 2006 at 11:38 AM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
ONE PER CENT OF SCHOOLIES ON WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW
Police Minister Judy Spence has congratulated the police and school leavers for another successful Schoolies festival on the Gold Coast.
Ms Spence told State Parliament that there were only five more arrests during Schoolies this year compared to 2005 – despite record crowd numbers.
“During the official Schoolies period between Friday 17 November and Sunday 26 November, total crowd numbers reached around 125,000 in Surfers Paradise,” Ms Spence said.
“Over the ten days police made a total of 489 arrests on 529 charges.
“More than 70 percent of these were non-schoolies - or “toolies” – of which 361 were arrested for public nuisance and street offences, and drug possession.
“Of the estimated 26,000 Schoolies that visited the coast, 128 school leavers were arrested.
“At the end of the day, less than one percent of all Schoolies attending Surfers Paradise found themselves on the wrong side of the law, mostly for public nuisance and drinking offences.”
Ms Spence said apart from one or two incidents, this year’s Schoolies Week celebrations compared well to previous years.
“Once again this year, police managed Schoolies celebrations from Cairns in the Far North, to Magnetic Island, the Whitsundays, Yeppoon and the Sunshine Coast,” Ms Spence said.
“At the hub of Schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast, police increased their presence in the key entertainment precincts, seconding 183 officers from across the state to boost local police numbers.
“General duties officers and police from specialist units such as State Crime Operations, Mounted Police and the Public Safety Response Team patrolled key areas 24-hours a day.”
Ms Spence said police worked closely with agencies such as Liquor Licensing, the Department of Communities, Queensland Fire and Rescue, the Queensland Ambulance Service, Education Queensland, Queensland Health and Queensland Transport to ensure resources were delivered where they were most needed.
Ms Spence said in the months leading up to Schoolies, police had raided several properties on the coast and seized more than 8,000 tablets suspected to be ecstasy and other drugs – which they believe were destined for Schoolies.
Ms Spence said police will continue to maintain a highly-visible presence in Surfers Paradise until December 17 to ensure school leavers from New South Wales celebrated safely.
Media contact – Sarah Martin 3239 6172 / 0408 732 491
Ms Spence told State Parliament that there were only five more arrests during Schoolies this year compared to 2005 – despite record crowd numbers.
“During the official Schoolies period between Friday 17 November and Sunday 26 November, total crowd numbers reached around 125,000 in Surfers Paradise,” Ms Spence said.
“Over the ten days police made a total of 489 arrests on 529 charges.
“More than 70 percent of these were non-schoolies - or “toolies” – of which 361 were arrested for public nuisance and street offences, and drug possession.
“Of the estimated 26,000 Schoolies that visited the coast, 128 school leavers were arrested.
“At the end of the day, less than one percent of all Schoolies attending Surfers Paradise found themselves on the wrong side of the law, mostly for public nuisance and drinking offences.”
Ms Spence said apart from one or two incidents, this year’s Schoolies Week celebrations compared well to previous years.
“Once again this year, police managed Schoolies celebrations from Cairns in the Far North, to Magnetic Island, the Whitsundays, Yeppoon and the Sunshine Coast,” Ms Spence said.
“At the hub of Schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast, police increased their presence in the key entertainment precincts, seconding 183 officers from across the state to boost local police numbers.
“General duties officers and police from specialist units such as State Crime Operations, Mounted Police and the Public Safety Response Team patrolled key areas 24-hours a day.”
Ms Spence said police worked closely with agencies such as Liquor Licensing, the Department of Communities, Queensland Fire and Rescue, the Queensland Ambulance Service, Education Queensland, Queensland Health and Queensland Transport to ensure resources were delivered where they were most needed.
Ms Spence said in the months leading up to Schoolies, police had raided several properties on the coast and seized more than 8,000 tablets suspected to be ecstasy and other drugs – which they believe were destined for Schoolies.
Ms Spence said police will continue to maintain a highly-visible presence in Surfers Paradise until December 17 to ensure school leavers from New South Wales celebrated safely.
Media contact – Sarah Martin 3239 6172 / 0408 732 491