NSW: Police will be tolerant, says Ryan

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-1999
NSW: Police will be tolerant, says Ryan

SYDNEY, Dec 31 AAP - Sydney police had been instructed to show tolerance towards New
Year's Eve high spirits, NSW Police Commissioner Peter Ryan said tonight.

"We have briefed our police to show a degree of tolerance to make sure people have
a good time, but if people go out of control they will be arrested," he told reporters.

"In the meantime, we're trying to give people a little bit of leeway tonight.

"We have a lot of police on duty tonight and have a lot of police on standby, especially
our rescue squads, our emergency response teams, we have close liaison with the ambulance
and fire services ... we're running an operation here the likes of which - in policing
terms - we've never had before in Australia.

"So far we've had no incidents, it's been very good, people are behaving themselves
and are in very good spirits - we hope it stays that way."

By early evening, tens of thousands of people had crammed into vantage points around
the harbour and Commissioner Ryan warned anyone still heading for the city to expect delays.

"There's a lot of traffic on the roads and anyone coming in ought to be very careful
because it's getting very jammed," he said.

"If they're coming by car, I'd think again ... preferrably use public transport if
at all possible.

AAP dk/sb/it

KEYWORD: EVE RYAN

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.