Canberra NYE revellers well behaved

ACT Policing was generally pleased with the behaviour of New Year’s Eve revellers in Canberra overnight, with five arrests recorded.

A concert in Civic Square, a dance party in Garema Place and two fireworks displays during the evening welcomed in the New Year and police were pleased to see fewer young people required to be taken into protective custody as a result of intoxication; 16 compared with 39 during the previous year’s celebrations.

The designated alcohol-free zones within the city functioned well.

Seven adults were taken to the ACT Watch House for intoxication.

Extensive foot patrols were conducted throughout the evening and into the early hours by police around Canberra’s entertainment precincts, and Traffic Operations police also conducted 550 roadside breath tests for alcohol.

Two drivers returned positive readings for alcohol and will be summonsed to court at a later date. One disqualified driver was detected.

Police attended an incident when a female pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on Northbourne Ave at the intersection of London Circuit around 12.40am but fortunately the woman suffered only minor injuries.