Christchurch Police have described the actions of drunken students at a Riccarton party as highly dangerous - after a bonfire was lit, cars were jumped on and officers were pelted with bottles during an incident overnight.
Four students were arrested after police closed down a party on Riccarton Road attended by more than 250 people.
Christchurch South Area Commander Inspector Malcolm Johnston says the party was one of the most disorderly police have attended for some time.
"It's particularly disappointing as things have been relatively settled in the area over recent weeks," he says.
"There was a huge amount of disruption to the surrounding neighbourhood - and the community just doesn't need this kind of aggravation at the moment."
The party is believed to have been an unofficial event held after the CUBA (Canterbury University Boardriders Association) Jib event at the University of Canterbury campus.
Inspector Johnston says Police were called to the flat near the corner of Riccarton Road and Wharenui Road, around 11.00pm last night [Wednesday 20 July], after complaints to noise control officers.
Approximately 250 people were attending the party and officers found a large bonfire burning on the property.
Police shut down the party but as revelers dispersed out onto Wharenui Road party goers were jumping on nearby resident's parked cars, knocking over wheelie bins, walking through neighbouring properties and throwing bottles of alcohol at police officers.
"The bottle throwing is particularly nasty. There's a real danger that officers, or other people at the party, could be seriously injured by flying bottles. That kind of rioting is over the top and there's no reason police should be subjected to it."
Around 15 police attended the incident. Inspector Johnston says he is confident police acted appropriately in shutting down the party, given the number of people involved, the fire risk, the degree of intoxication and the level of disorder and disruption in the vicinity of the event.
Four people, all students, were arrested on various disorder offences and subsequently released after receiving pre-charge warnings.
Police are continuing to liaise with the University in an effort to curb the potential for similar incidents in the future, and to identify repeat offenders, Inspector Johnston says.
ENDS
Media contact:
Stephen Hill, Communications Manager, Canterbury Police District
03 3637815 / 027 4363701