Central Hunter police “will be out in force” across Maitland and Cessnock on New Year’s Eve as paramedics share horror stories from last year’s celebrations.
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NSW Police Acting Inspector David Bender said the Central Hunter Command would have a high number of officers rostered on for the biggest party night of the year.
“It’ll be above and beyond our usual level, there’ll be plenty of uniforms out there,” he said.
“We’ll be starting on the [Maitland Riverbank] in the afternoon and evening.”
Acting Inspector Bender said the family event was a good opportunity for the police and community to interact.
“Then we’ll be going around to pubs, hotels,” he said.
“Targeting antisocial behaviour and alcohol related problems.”
As the evening wears on officers will be on alert and ready to travel to incidents as they develop.
In addition, Highway Patrol will support officers on the roads, continuing their focus on drink driving.
Meanwhile, NSW Ambulance paramedics are calling for people to use common sense to avoid serious injury this New Year’s Eve, gleaned from events that occurred during last year’s festivities.
Around last year’s New Year’s celebrations paramedics helped:
- A male who impaled his leg while jumping a fence at Kirribilli; also a 24-year-old female who suffered a serious arm injury while climbing a metal fence at Neutral Bay.
- A 19-year-old male who fell 4 metres from a balcony on Byron Bay, suffering a serious head injury; also a 30-year-old female who suffered multiple cuts after falling through a glass table at a party at Swansea on NYE;
- An intoxicated and drug-affected male with a nail gun who had to be subdued while out with friends at Riverstone.
- Multiple patients who suffered burns from exploding fire crackers, sparklers and glow sticks; also people falling into fires.
