Police disappointed with crowd behaviour at Hunter Valley music concert

Police are disappointed following a number of incidents involving intoxicated people at a music concert in the Hunter Valley yesterday.
The event was held at Hope Estate on Broke Road, Pokolbin, from 2pm (Saturday 23 February 2019), and continued until 10pm.
A police operation was conducted involving officers from Hunter Valley Police District, assisted by Northern Region, Dog Unit, and licencing officers.
During the operation, six people were charged with a range of offences including common assault, assault police, resist arrest, and fail to quit.
Of note, about 9pm, a 25-year-old man was asked to leave the event by security due to intoxication.
Police nearby were asked to assist after the man allegedly refused to follow their direction. While officers were escorting the man from the area, he allegedly blew snot at a male senior constable.
The Kensington man was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station where he was charged with assault officer in execution of duty and excluded person fail to leave premises when required.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 20 March 2019.
In addition, there were 44 drug detections for MDMA, cocaine and cannabis. The drugs will undergo forensic examination with charges expected to follow, however, 17 cannabis cautions were issued.
Police and security ejected 79 people from the event and 34 people were taken to a separate area within the event due to intoxication.
Three people were issued Criminal Infringement Notices for trespass.
Hunter Valley Police District Commander, Superintendent Chad Gillies, said while most of the crowd behaved responsibly, it was disappointing to have a high number of people ejected or excluded from the event due to intoxication.
“Our officers were kept busy last night with several drug and alcohol-related incidents,” Supt Gillies said.
“Police are not there to spoil people’s fun, but the behaviour of people affected by alcohol was unacceptable and a music event is not an excuse to break the law.
“In one incident, security officers refused entry to a bus with 20 patrons on arrival due to intoxication levels,” Supt Gillies said.