Huge police presence and strict new rules at Easter Show after horror teen stabbing

Police have explained why they’ve banned rap music from the Royal Easter Show after a teenager was fatally stabbed last year.

Ride operators have been told not to play rap music at the Sydney Royal Easter Show after the horror stabbing of a teenager last year.

Uati “Pele” Faletolu, 17, was an expectant father who had been working at the showground over the school holidays when he was stabbed in the chest in the middle of a busy crowd.

Five people are facing charges of murder or accessory to murder following Uati’s death and they remain before the courts.

On Tuesday morning, NSW Police announced it would launch a series of tough new rules for the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year, including the ban on rap music.

Police say they have evidence that rap music is being used by bikie gangs to lure young people into crime. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Three teens were charged with murder over the alleged fatal stabbing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the decision to ban rap music was founded on evidence that the Comanchero bikie gang had used it to recruit young people to carry out serious violent crime.

“Rap music is being used to lure youth into a life of crime,” he told reporters.

“Through rap music investment, they procured a significant youth gang problem to carry out violent crime.

“We’ve got all the evidence that we need to demonstrate that rap music is being used to lure youth into a life of crime.”

Uati ‘Pele’ Faletolu, with partner Taylor Piliae, was stabbed to death at the Easter Show in 2022. Picture: Facebook

Police will restrict access to the event for individuals deemed a risk to public safety. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

The family-friendly event will open its doors again on April 5 at the Sydney Showground, with a strengthened police presence to crack down on criminal and anti-social behaviour.

Strike Force APACE has “targeted youth gangs” by invoking legislation last used on the Alameddine and Hamzy crime gangs to prevent people from crossing over into each other's postcodes in October 2020.

Thirty public safety orders have been served to teens and young adults who have been deemed to “present a public safety risk or have a previous history of serious violent crime”.

The Royal Easter Show was back up and running within days. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Crowds were not turned away after the stabbing in 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

It took police three months to lay charges over the alleged murder. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

An extra six PSOs are on their way and police are not ruling out issuing more orders.

The police presence will more than double at the show from last year, with more than 50 police officers on duty every day as well as specialist youth command officers.

A specialist street gang team will provide real-time intelligence out of a dedicated centre.

“We have been working for months now to make sure this is the safest show we have ever had here,” Mr Smith said.

Sideshow alley will be altered to ensure patrons’ safety. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Sideshow alley, the section of the show where the alleged murder took place last year, will be dramatically altered to ensure the safety of an anticipated 900,000 guests.

All rides – excluding the Children’s Carnival – will have to close at 9.30pm, there will be more lighting, reduced music volumes, metal detectors and wanding at the entrance, and bag checks if required.

Sydney Royal Easter Show general manager Murray Wilton said he had been working “shoulder to shoulder” with police for many months to ensure patrons’ safety.

“The main thing is that we’ve toned the decibel limit of the music right down,” he said.

“That is the one thing that has been the trigger factor.

“There will be no rap music, and nothing with swear words through it or offensive language.”

Sydney Royal Easter Show general manager Murray Wilton said that reducing the volume of music has been a major focus. Picture: Simon Bullard/April 18/2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

He said the operators would have the right to remove people from the site for anti-social behaviour. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

When asked whether banning a particular style of music could be considered racist, Mr Wilton disagreed.

“I don't think it‘s racist, we are determining the type of music that we do and do not want at the Easter Show,” he said.

“We are not making any apology for what we’re doing this year.”

Mr Wilton said people would be banned for anti-social behaviour that could be as simple as “a group of teens that are running rampant and chasing each other and swearing”.

Originally published as Huge police presence and strict new rules at Easter Show after horror teen stabbing