Teenagers in custody after drinking incidents [1]
Thursday, December 31, 2009 - 14:17. Updated on Sunday, May 25, 2014 - 22:24.
New Year's Eve revellers in Tonga are being told they should be able to enjoy themselves and be free from bad behaviour by others.
Police will be out in full force tonight and are taking a hard line on drinking teenagers and their parents, as well as drinking drivers.
"I ask this question of every parent in Tonga: If your teenage son or daughter has alcohol this New Year where did they get it and why don't you know about it?" Police Commander Chris Kelly said this afternoon.
Eleven young people were arrested last night after throwing rocks at police vehicles in two separate incidents.
"All the persons involved had been drinking liquor and all were aged between 15 and 19 years. These people will remain in custody until police have confirmed their identities, established where the liquor was obtained and arrangements made for parents to come to the police station and bail them out.
"Police will not tolerate this type of anti-social behavior. Offenders will be arrested regardless of age, put before the court and parents made to come to the police station before the culprits are bailed out," Cmdr Kelly said.
During the Christmas-New Year season there have been 171 arrests so far, mainly for drunkenness, public disorder and anti-social behaviour.
Glue sniffing
On Day Eight of a 13 day Christmas-New Year Policing operation there were also reports of youngsters sniffing 'glue' products purchased at shops and stores.
"Glue sniffing by young people is very often the first step to further substance abuse and police will take a firm stance with anyone caught sniffing glue," he warned.
"Tonight is New Year's Eve and everyone should enjoy themselves and be free from abuse and bad behavior by others. Tonga Police will be out in numbers over the next 24 hours, we intend to take a firm stance on behaviour, alcohol and substance abuse, drinking in public places and driving behaviour. Have a sober driver, don't take the risk of drink driving, the consequences are not worth it," he said.
Road Safety
During the eight days of Operation Moala to date 1,911 traffic stops have been carried out by police throughout Tonga. Of 124 random 'breath alcohol sniffer tests' carried out. 66 failed the 'sniffer' test showing that 50% of drivers had been drinking.
There was one road fatality, 12 traffic crashes reported; 361 complaints reported to police; with 29 cases involving domestic violence.