POLICE DENY DRUGS LOVE-IN

Police yesterday described as "absolute garbage" claims that widespread
usage of the illegal drug ecstasy was responsible for the low number of
arrests and fights in Bondi on New Year's Eve.

Assistant police commissioner Dick Adams cited the high police profile,
responsible drinking and the force's high tolerance for exuberant
behaviour as the key reasons for the peaceful celebrations.

"Most of the licensed premises, particularly at Bondi, closed at 9pm and
so did the bottle shops. So in reality, once people had drunk their
stocks they were unable to get any anywhere else," he said.

There was "not enough ecstasy to give 900,000 people a high", he said.
"These claims have cast a doubt on the integrity of those officers who
were involved in operations on the night. Police did a damn fine job
to manage the large crowd in a very peaceful manner."

The Herald yesterday reported claims that the shift among young
partygoers from alcohol and its associated aggressive behaviour to the
so-called love drug ecstasy had led to a decline in anti-social behaviour.

The head of accident and emergency at St Vincent's hospital, Dr Gordian
Fulde, said the change had led to a significant decline in violence.

In response, Mr Adams said he would like to see a study that proved this.

He said it was "irresponsible and incorrect" to claim police were bored
on the night and had no-one to arrest.

"They were not bored at all, they were managing crowds all night. They
stood out in the rain in very unpleasant conditions all night to ensure
everybody was well behaved."

At Bondi in particular partygoers, both on Christmas day and New Year's
Eve, were well behaved.

"We have been planning this for 12 months," Mr Smith said. "It's a
credit to the people who were there and the way in which the event was
policed by Superintendent Bob May."