Jan 1, 2007
Police have arrested 58 people during New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, including one man who stole an officer's cap.
More than a million people gathered around the Sydney Harbour foreshore and other vantage points to watch the fireworks displays.
The threat of rain could not dampen the spirits of revellers who spent the day and night at waterfront locations around the harbour.
The operation commander, Assistant Commissioner Dave Owens, said police were pleased with the behaviour of the majority of revellers.
"The number of people arrested reinforces that police did not and will not tolerate dangerous, criminal or anti-social behaviour," Owens said.
"I have instructed my officers to act in a fair but firm manner to ensure everyone has a good time but not at the expense of other people's safety."
A total of 58 arrests were made and 69 charges laid for offences including offensive conduct, stealing, assaulting police, goods in custody, assault, drink driving and affray.
Seven people at a Bondi Beach dance party were arrested and charged after being detected with ecstasy and cannabis during a drug-dog search.
A man was also arrested after stealing an officer's cap in Sydney's CBD while police were called to a brawl.
Another officer was injured while trying to subdue a man in George Street in the CBD. The man has been charged with assaulting police and affray.
Ambulance officers were also kept busy, responding to 1,139 calls in Sydney through the night and another 900 in country areas.
Melbourne riots
Meanwhile, three police were injured, one seriously, in a New Year's Eve riot involving more than 500 people on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula on Sunday night.
A fight involving 50 revellers broke out in the car park at the Rye pier, south of Melbourne, about 11.50pm (AEDT) on Sunday, police said.
As police intervened and arrested a man, a crowd of about 500 people turned on the officers, some hurling bottles and plastic chairs, a Victoria Police spokesman said.
Reinforcements, including mounted officers, were called in and quickly dispersed the crowd.
A senior constable was taken to Rosebud Hospital with severe bruising. Two other officers were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Four people were arrested and charged with offences including public drunkenness, assaults and discharging a missile.
But police praised the behaviour of New Year's Eve partygoers in central Melbourne, where up to 450,000 people defied looming grey skies to ring in 2007 with free public entertainment and the traditional fireworks display.
"We had a dozen plus people arrested for drunkenness but we gave early warnings that we were going to do that," Superintendent Mick Williams told Southern Cross Radio today.
"You step over the line, we will accommodate you.
"Apart from that there were no serious incidents. We're very pleased with the whole result."
Revellers were spared predicted rain and thunderstorms as the $145,000 pyrotechnic show exploded overhead.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was the centrepiece of the city's New Year celebrations

A crowd of approximately 1 million has welcomed the new year in Sydney overnight. Many of the crowd had camped out since 6 AM AEDT (7PM UTC) to ensure they had the best vantage point for the fireworks displays at 9 PM and 12 AM. Earlier predictions of rain failed to dampen enthusiastic revellers and fortunately did not eventuate.

According to police, vantage points were Circular Quay and Sydney Opera House closed around 7 PM.

This year's theme was "A diamond night in Emerald City" and celebrated the Sydney Harbour Bridge's diamond anniversary of 75 years which will fall in March.

As usual, the bridge became the centre piece of Sydney's celebrations with a question mark turning into a coat hanger during the 9 PM fireworks show before a diamond appeared at 11 PM.

Entertainment was held in the city throughout the day, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display at midnight. Revellers counted down the final seconds of 2006 with numbers on the side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The festivities are estimated to have cost AUD $4 million and organisers claim their fireworks display is "the largest in the world". Sydney's celebrations were broadcast on television live around the world as other countries prepared their New Year's Eve celebrations.

Despite the large crowd, police made only 58 arrests for offences including offensive conduct, stealing, assaulting police, goods in custody, assault, drink driving and affray.

Ambulance officers were called to 1,139 incidents in Sydney with another 900 in country areas.