Thousands of additional police hit the streets of New South Wales on the second night of Operation Unite, the Australasian crackdown on alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour.

Over 2000 additional police were involved in the two-night blitz targeting known hotspots in towns and CBD’s as well as licensed premises, roads, waterways and transport hubs.

Last night’s phase of the operation saw 209 people arrested and charged with 381 offences. This compares with 251 people arrested and charged with 403 offences during the second night of the operation held in May this year.

22 people were charged with either assaulting or hindering police and resisting arrest. The use of the new intoxication/disorderly move-on legislation resulted in 191 people being issued with official move-ons.

There were also 400 people issued general move-on directions and 569 person searches conducted while 43 people were searched as a result of drug dog detections.

Motorists did not escape the eye of police with 11,483 random breath tests conducted and 100 people charged with drink-driving.

Deputy Commissioner (Field Operations) Nick Kaldas said police were generally pleased with the behaviour of people and the number of arrests and offences were down compared to previous years.

“The number of arrests and charges were down this year and this is a good start but we are still seeing people abusing alcohol and coming under police notice.

“Despite all the warnings and messages people still went out, got drunk and then turned on the police who were on the streets to protect them.

“This was evident with police intervening in a brawl outside a nightclub in Liverpool and arresting two violent offenders at a hotel in St Marys following a brawl between patrons and security.

‘These are perfect examples of the drunken behaviour and problems police see every weekend across Sydney,” said Deputy Commissioner Kaldas.

Deputy Commissioner Kaldas said it wasn’t just police that bore the brunt of the booze-fuelled crime with innocent members of the public and motorists also affected by other people’s stupidity.

“In Matraville a drunk driver was lucky not to kill himself or other motorists when he crashed his car while attempting to turn onto Daunt Avenue last night.

“The 31-year-old man lost control of his car and crashed into two cars on Bunnerong Road. He was breath tested and blew 0.141 before being charged with negligent driving and mid range PCA,” said Deputy Commissioner Kaldas.

• In another alcohol-fuelled incident police were called to a hotel on Pitt Street, Sydney about 4:15am today after a man was assaulted with a belt buckle. The man sustained facial injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment after being hit in the face with the buckle. Police have been told the fight started over a woman in the hotel. One man was arrested at the scene and is now assisting police with their inquiries. 
• Two men were arrested and are expected to be charged following a large scale brawl between patrons and security at a club in St Marys this morning. Police were patrolling outside the club when a number of patrons became involved in a fight with security. Police intervened and attempted to assist the security officers when further patrons joined in the fight and turned on police. The police officers had to call for urgent assistance before deploying capsicum spray, defusing the incident and arresting the two men. 

The results for the two day operation in NSW were:

• Police arrested 385 people and charged them with a total of 781 offences relating to alcohol-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour. In May 2011 Operation Unite arrested 563 people and charged them with a total of 830 offences.
• Police laid 9 charges for assault police and 21 charges for resist arrest. In May 2011 Operation Unite police charged 12 people for assault police and 26 for resist arrest.
• Police charged 76 people with assault. In May 2011 Operation Unite police charged 47 people with assault.