Posted on 12/13/2005 10:13:19 AM PST by blam
Sydney police 'to get new powers'
Police have already made a number of arrests
Police in Sydney will be given tough new powers to crack down on rioters, the New South Wales premier has said. The state parliament will meet on Thursday "to deal with criminals and thugs who are causing disturbances across our city", said Morris Iemma.
He was speaking after a second night of race riots left seven people injured.
Gangs of young men of Middle Eastern appearance rampaged through the suburb of Cronulla, in apparent revenge for attacks by white youths on Sunday.
In the adjacent suburb of Brighton-Le-Sands, crowds threw rocks at police cars and passing motorists. A total of 11 people were arrested, and a reporter in the area described scenes of "chaos".
'Ratbags'
The New South Wales authorities will seek to grant police the power to close bars and shops selling alcohol during times of unrest, Mr Iemma told a news conference on Tuesday.
They will also investigate the use of so-called lock down zones, involving "road closures, cordoning off a certain area... [and] cars being able to be randomly searched," Mr Iemma said.
"I won't allow Sydney's reputation as a tolerant, vibrant international city to be tarnished by these ratbags and criminals who want to engage in the sort of behaviour we've seen in the last 48 hours," he added.
The violence started on Sunday, when thousands of young white men attacked people of Arabic and Mediterranean background on Cronulla Beach - apparently in revenge for a recent attack on two lifeguards.
Many of the rioters had been alerted to congregate in the area by receiving mobile text messages.
The fighting then spread to other parts of the city, injuring more than 30 people, including police officers.
The violence continued on Monday night, despite calls for calm and ethnic tolerance by Prime Minister John Howard and other senior figures.
There is little sign that the situation is easing, with reports of new text messages being sent in the Sydney area, calling for more violence next weekend.
"We'll show them! It's on again (on) Sunday," the Associated Press quoted one message as saying.
Stop them while you can mates!
KEWL! New Powers!
Heat Vision?
Super Breath?
This is becoming series.
Yes, the state must do all it can to stamp out the majorities attempt to defend itself from the daily crime of the innocent 3rd worlders.
Ah, another enlightened soul on FR. The state can tolerate no competition, especially not civilians taking care of themselves.
yep that's Butters
I'm sure the authorities will make sure to only arrest the white Aussies, as the extra police powers were never intended to be used against "young men of Middle Eastern appearance".
They hate the West. Why are they here ?
The Aussies are gonna you Muslim creeps back to Allah in a cardboard box!
You better run!!!
The obvious resolution to this problem is to send them back where they came from, along with their families. Immediately.
It should be possible to insert some computer filter into the text messaging system and rout suspicious ones to the cops. Say one addressed to 20 phones saying "fight." The phone records could easily reveal not only who owned the phones sending and receiving the messages, whether they were received, and in some cases GPS information leading the police straight to the phones in question. It may not often be a desirable tactic on 1st amendment grounds, but then the Aussies don't have our 1st amendment and are capable of dreaming up their own safeguards. There should be no more right to incite a riot via text messages than via your voice and a bullhorn. With proper controls (court orders) it should be possible to police this new thuggary tactic. BTW, some attribute the first use of this tactic to libs protesting the 2004 GOP convention.
No doubt the parliament will pass new laws preventing australians from defending themselves against muslim terrorists.
They would be better off restoring the rights of their citizens rather than increasing the powers of the police.
"OK you scofflaws.....Now I've got real bullets!"
To fight, destroy, and conquer it.
The English government knows it rules, but the people know they just go along with the government until their daily dinner is in danger. The Aussies know that about their government even better.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.