No end to riots as texts go national



This was published 15 years ago

No end to riots as texts go national

More unrest is expected in Sydney and hundreds more police will be on duty this weekend on top of 450 extra officers patrolling the city for the rest of the week.

NSW Police Minister Carl Scully said an already heavy police presence would be increased this weekend, as text messages encouraging unrest continued to circulate.

Queensland police said on Tuesday that mobile phone text messages calling for people to start "cracking skulls" had surfaced on the Gold Coast.

NSW police said that similar messages had also been reported in Victoria.

"We're not at the point of bringing police in from other states but if that's required, if that's a tactic that we need to rely on, then that's something I will discuss with the commissioner and then we will go forward from there," Deputy Commissioner Andrew Scipione told ABC radio.

In Sydney, Scully said Tuesday night was relatively calm, following two consecutive nights of race-fuelled violence, but said the job for police was not over.

Asked if more trouble was anticipated this weekend, the minister said: "We expect further problems".

He said police were prepared and were taking seriously a new round of text messages encouraging unrest.

" ... some of them are crying wolf, they're false, they're hoaxes. But some of them, we think, have credibility and we need to be aware that there is a risk of incidents continuing," Mr Scully said.

"On the weekend, there will be a huge police presence across Sydney on Saturday and Sunday, and there will be a large police presence over the next few night.


"We had more than 400 cops last night. Expect hundreds on top of that on Saturday and Sunday."

Mr Scully said new police powers to be passed on Thursday during a special sitting of parliament would be powerful weapons for police.

Under the laws, police will be able to lock down parts of Sydney and search and confiscate vehicles - measures aimed at ending night-time "smash and bash" raids by carloads of young men.

Mr Scully said police also would be able to confiscate mobile phones.

"These characters are using their cars and mobile phones to conduct convoys with intent and they are getting a very strong message," he said.

"They love their cars and their phones and they're going to have them taken off them."

Mr Scully agreed that many arrested over the Sydney violence had been freed on bail and were quickly back on the street.

That was why police had sought changes to remove the presumption of bail for offences including riot and affray.

"We believe a number of offences should have a presumption against bail - obviously affray and riot," he said.

But he said offences arising following the use of the new police powers would also have an assumption against bail.

"The premier and I have made a decision that the extension of presumption against bail will include offences that have occurred where the police have used these extra powers," Mr Scully said.

"So if alcohol has been banned, or a temporary alcohol prohibition zone, or lock down, or confiscation of cars - and following that people engage in hindering or resisting police or offensive behaviour or assault or anything of that nature that arises following use of these powers - there will be a presumption against bail.

"If these characters don't get the message, and they continue these public disorder actions, they'll be locked up."

He said such offenders could argue for bail in court, but would have to demonstrate special circumstances for that to be granted.

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