Brisbane, New Year: Dark side of NYE in Fortitude Valley

IT’S the less cheery side of the New Year. While most Queenslanders partied well into the morning, police were out in force overnight cleaning up bloody messes across the state.

A woman led away by police in Fortitude Valley on NYE. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

IT’S the bloodier, less cheery side of the New Year. While most Queenslanders partied well into the morning, police were out in force overnight cleaning up bloody messes across the state.

The Courier-Mail last night followed a team of frontline officers as they patrolled the Fortitude Valley party precinct.

THREE DEAD IN NYE TRAGEDIES

These first responders barely had a moment to spare as they moved from job to job, fight to fight.

Within minutes of responding to one incident, the officers would be called to another.

Over a period of just one hour, police were called to three blood-strewn alleged assaults and several fights.

One man was taken into police custody soaked in blood after he allegedly attempted to spark a fight with fellow revellers.

Police officers, protected from the blood by rubber gloves, patiently assisted the man as they waited for paramedics to assess his condition.

In a separate incident, just minutes later and only metres away, police accompanied a young man to a first aid stand to receive treatment for a badly cut lip.

He was reportedly the recipient of a cheap-shot punch while partying in a nightclub.

The man allegedly fought back before he and his attacker were kicked out of the club by security.

Police were unable to catch this man’s attacker – it’s believed he fled the scene and hid amongst the crowd.

The victim however was left in a bloody state and it seems unlikely he will be charged with an offence.

A man passed out in the Fortitude Valley mall. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

The blood spilt during the fight was hard to ignore. Small droplets littered the pathway where the man spoke with officers.

Inspector David French, who heads the Fortitude Valley operation, said regular contact with blood was a “trying” issue for police.

“They’re very well trained and experienced in terms of personal protection in that regard,” Insp French said.

“The officers obviously have all got personal protective equipment.

“They’ve got rubber gloves they put on when they get the opportunity – it depends on the situation.”

Revellers in the Valley early today.

Insp French said police were kept busy overnight as the precinct filled with revellers welcoming in the New Year.

“On a regular Saturday night, we might make 25 arrests,” he said.

“But we deal with a lot more incidents that that.

“We get large crowds here – 15,000 odd people.

“So overwhelmingly, [people are] here to have a good time, but we do continue to have a small core of people who do cause problems.”

Although officers were mostly kept busy fighting crime overnight, they were also pelted with a number of questions from party-goers – like when the trains stopped operating or where Hungry Jack’s could be found.

New Years day in the Valley.

Insp French said he was “very proud” of the way his officers dealt with the public while on the beat.

“There’s no doubt that they’re, in my humble view, the best police in Queensland in terms of dealing with general public order,” he said.

“And they are also some of the most patient and professional officers.”