Pubdate: Mon, 05 May 2008
Source: Lismore Northern Star (Australia)
Copyright: APN News & Media Ltd 2008
Contact:  http://www.northernstar.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4156
Author: Emma O'Neill

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.
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