POLICE PUT THEIR MARK ON FESTIVAL

THE weekend's MardiGrass festival in Nimbin attracted a record crowd
of 15,000 people, 80 of whom were apprehended as part of police
operation Brewarrana.

The taskforce involved random breath-tests, the use of drug dogs,
roadside drug-testing and a high number of police walking the street.

Most arrests were for drug-related offences, however, about half of
those caught with drugs were given cautions which will not result in
a court appearance.

While MardiGrass parade organiser Elizabeth Rix described the police
presence at the festival as imposing, Richmond Local Area commander
Superintendentt Bruce Lyon said the police presence was appropriate
for the size of the crowd.

Michael Balderstone, of the Hemp Embassy, said police had lightened
up a bit during the festival, after last week forcing the weekend
closure of the Hemp Bar and Nimbin Museum under the Restricted
Premises Act.

"It was hard watching people miss out on seeing the museum," he
said.

MardiGrass parade marshal Graeme Dunstan also praised the restraint
of police who, he said, backed off from raiding MardiGrass HQ.

"The police were patrolling in a low-key presence in the crowd on
Sunday. They were visible, ready to help, ready to talk, but
certainly not harassing," he said.

A drug-dog operation stopping cars just outside Nimbin resulted in 44
drug detections, with 27 being issued cautions.

Officers conducted 54 driver drug-tests, with three testing positive.
Two of 317 people given random breath tests returned low range PCA
readings.

Two cars were stolen during the weekend in Nimbin and a 51-year-old
man was charged on Friday night following a seizure of martial arts
weaponry which included nunchakus and karma fickles.

In the week leading up to the festival police seized more than 50kg
of cannabis as well as amphetamines, ecstasy and LSD in the LAC.

Police operation Brewarrana continues today. Meanwhile police are
investigating the assault of a 22-year-old woman who was treated in
hospital for facial injuries on Saturday afternoon, and the assault
of a 17-year-old girl on Friday night.