By LEE STEINBACHER
WITH a suggested 15,000 people converging into Bridgetown for the Blues at Bridgetown, local Police were happy with the behaviour of most participants.
There were an extra 10 officers from surrounding stations as well as two officers from the South West Liquor Enforcement Unit attending the three day event to assist local officers.
Although most revellers enjoyed themselves without breaking the law, a small minority were unable to do the right thing.
One person was apprehended as a drunk detainee, for his own protection, and was conveyed to Bunbury Lock Up due to his high level of intoxication
Two people were charged with disorderly behaviour for urinating in public; two people were charged with breaching a move on order; one person was charged with possessing pepper spray (a controlled weapon); six people were charged for possessing cannabis, with three also being charged for using; one person was charged with possessing ecstasy tablets and two people were charged with excess 0.08 per cent and driving unregistered vehicles.
13 liquor and five traffic infringements were issued, along with 18 move on orders.
Police administered 379 random breath tests, from which two drink drivers were found.
Reported offences included one assault, where the offender was identified and inquiries are continuing; two stealing and one damage.
Bridgetown Sergeant Danny Fenton said he was impressed with the overall behaviour of most people attending and with the way the festival was organised.
"The Blues this year was very well-run by Nick and Vicktor Petroff, the Blues Committee and their army of willing volunteers. The feedback from festival goers and the community at large regarding the behaviour of all attendees was very positive, and is as much a reflection on how the event was presented, as it is the efforts of the Police that attended,” he said.
“The amount of people charged or infringed for liquor, drug and antisocial behaviour was substantially higher than previous years, and reflected a lower tolerance by Police to breaches of relevant laws. At the end of the day though, this affected only about 0.2 per cent of people, meaning the other 99.8 per cent percent of Blues fans could enjoy the weekend without being negatively affected by the minority.
“What was pleasing though, was that the majority of people detected committing offences were from out of town, which showed that the residents of Bridgetown take great pride in representing their community in a positive light on their biggest weekend of the year.”
On the weekend following the Blues, two more drivers were detected in excess of 0.08 on Hampton Street in Bridgetown on Saturday November 15. A 59 year old Manjimup woman was apprehended driving with an alleged blood alcohol reading of 0.100 at 10.18pm, on her way home to Manjimup.
At 12.54am a 35 year old Bunbury man was detected driving with an alleged blood alcohol reading of 0.142, having been drinking in Manjimup, and intending to drive home to Bunbury. Both were issued with disqualification notices and will be summonsed to appear in the Bridgetown Magistrates Court 17 December 2014.
You can follow Bridgetown Police on twitter at @BridgetownPol.
