Top cop Dave Darcy defends his command against ‘flimsy’ claims from councillor Rory Amon

One of Sydney’s top police officers has slammed a northern beaches councillor for questioning the integrity of his command, and said he felt ‘compelled’ to correct the politician’s ‘flimsy’ claims it had turned a blind eye to drug use.

Northern Beaches Local Area Superintendant Dave Darcy. Picture: (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

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The peninsula’s top cop has criticised a Northern Beaches councillor for questioning the integrity of his command.

In an unprecedented appearance at council’s Tuesday night meeting, Superintendent Dave Darcy said he “felt compelled” to publicly defend his command from claims it had turned a blind eye to drug use.

Northern beaches councillor Rory Amon at Manly Beach. Picture: Adam Yip/ Manly Daily

The claims were listed in Cr Rory Amon’s motion to resolve noise, illegal camping, nudity, drug and alcohol use and groups of up to 400 people attending Castle Drumming events in Church Point’s McCarrs Creek Reserve each month.

“Comments like these challenge the integrity of our command and erode our standing in the community, so when someone makes an inaccurate or flimsy claim, it needs to be corrected,” Supt Darcy told the Manly Daily after the meeting.

Police have been called to inspect Castle Drumming gatherings on two occasions in the past 12 months — on August 4 and November 3 — with officers reporting the group of about 150 was not “causing any dramas … and appeared drug and alcohol free”.

At the meeting Mr Darcy responded to claims made in Cr Amon’s motion.

He said: “I just want to take you back to why I’m here … that council and police may be overlooking the use of illicit substances in public places on a regular basis.

“We do not do that. We are enforcing drug law enforcement … and I am happy to talk about all the different strategies we’re doing.”

McCarrs Creek Reserve in Church Point where the gatherings have been occuring.

Supt Darcy later told the Manly Daily his command had seized more guns on the northern beaches — involved with drug supply from large groups such as bikies and cocaine cartels — in the past two years than ever before.

“We’re finding them because we’re finding the right people,” Supt Darcy said.

“We’re tackling high levels of drug supply, while also doing regular drug operations on The Corso.

“It takes a tremendous amount of resources, so for someone to suggest we are approving drug use needs to be corrected.”

Cr Amon’s motion was withdrawn before it could be debated, as the council’s staff met with the drumming group, which had agreed to relocate its events.

Despite Supt Darcy’s terse response, Cr Rory Amon said it was necessary to swiftly address ongoing community concerns about Castle Drumming events.

“The main point is that this has been an issue for five years — council and police were aware of the issues — and it took a motion to get it fixed,” Cr Amon said.

“Whether or not you have one or two complaints is irrelevant to the risks that are given in an environment it is creating.”

Cr Amon said the information he had on the event came from residents and Castle Drumming Facebook page members affected by the gatherings.

“It should not have taken this long to resolve but the outcome is testament to council, police and elected representatives working together effectively,” he said.

Supt Darcy said police and the council were now working with the group to find a new home for their events.

“Give the hippies a break,” Supt Darcy told the Manly Daily. “The world would be pretty plain with just suits and ties walking all over the place. The beaches has always prided itself on tolerance and acceptance of people who look at the world differently, and we shouldn’t abandon that. We’re really hoping to find these people a safe home for their events, where they can express themselves the way they want, without judgment.”

The Castle Drumming group was contacted, but was yet to respond.

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