The Auckland City Police Planning and Operations Group has worked on arrangements around the coming weekend's NRL Nines tournament for several months and is encouraging all patrons to respect the local alcohol bans, to ensure valuables are not left in parked vehicles and, where possible, to take public transport to and from the city.
District Manager Operations and Support, Inspector Peter Gibson, says Auckland City Police plans for literally hundreds of events and VIP visits a year.
"This is the second year of the NRL Nines tournament in Auckland and we're told the organisers are anticipating capacity crowds at Eden Park over the two days.
"Staff from throughout the region are rostered to assist the organisers and promoters of the event and to enable Aucklanders to go about their business with the least amount of inconvenience.
"There'll be thousands of visitors to the city and we encourage them, business operators and locals who intend participating in what the city has to offer, to be aware of theirs and their friends' personal safety and responsibilities.
"As was the case with last year's inaugural NRL Nines tournament, three big screen Police advertisements will be broadcast at Eden Park that summarise some of our key advice to event patrons - take it easy on the drink, keep kids safe in a crowd and avoid becoming a victim of car crime by taking some simple preventative steps like leaving valuables at home or locked out of view."
Police will be out and about enforcing local alcohol bans and encouraging bar managers to hang onto their licences by refusing to serve intoxicated patrons. Police and community wardens will travel on some trains in order to maintain visibility, prevent crime and improve passenger safety.
Police will be co-located at the Auckland Transport Operations Centre and, as usual, in the District Command Centre where real time 24/7 CCTV coverage of the city environs is literally available at the touch of a button or a screen.
Issued by Noreen Hegarty
Auckland City Police Communications Manager
Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589
Website: www.police.govt.nz