As stated by Senior Sergeant Roy Appley, Community Services Manager Christchurch
Police want people to have fun at Electric Avenue, a massive music and arts festival at Christchurch’s Hagley Park next week, but they want people to stay safe too.
New Zealand’s biggest festival features close to 50 artists across five stages and runs for 12-hours, so Police advice is to take your time and pace yourself.
‘Know your Stuff’ will be at the event – they are a community organisation of volunteers and part of New Zealand’s legal and publicly funded drug checking programme. Their role is to provide drug-related harm reduction services which includes drug checking at events like this one.
Institute of Environmental Science and Research/He Pūtaiao, He Tāngata (ESR) and Police drug specialist staff will be at the all-day event working with people around safety and drugs.
If you are planning on going the distance, then pacing yourself is the key.
Police advice is to avoid taking any drugs. However, if you do, here’s some advice about keeping safe:
• Even when the drug is what it seems, the user can come to considerable harm.
• Illicit drugs are manufactured and/or imported by people who put profit above all else and do not consider the health and wellbeing of users.
• Never accept drugs that you haven’t personally bought yourself, especially from strangers.
• Police will continue to use their discretion to reduce harm; providing support to those who need it, and keeping our communities safe.
Here’s some advice on what to do if drinking alcohol at this event:
• Have something substantial to eat before you head out to party.
• Have a glass of water between each alcoholic drink.
• Never leave your drink unattended, or accept drinks that you haven’t personally seen poured, especially from strangers.
Police want you to look after yourselves and look after your mates. Make sure you;
• Have something substantial to eat before you head out to party.
• Check your phone is fully charged before heading out.
• Agree on a place to meet up with your friends in case you get separated.
• Drink a glass of water between each alcoholic drink.
• Challenge inappropriate comments or actions, and report the people concerned to bar staff, or police if necessary.
Have a plan to get home safely. If you’re going to walk, make sure you go with someone else. Alternatively, pre-arrange a sober driver, or have a way to pay for a taxi or Uber ride home.
Police also has a message for those may consider taking advantage of vulnerable or intoxicated people – just DON’T. And call it out if you witness it.
Sexual assault is unacceptable. It is never the victim’s fault, and will not be tolerated. Police will respond to, and investigate every incident reported to us.
Call 111 in an emergency, or you are observing something illegal or suspicious. If an incident has already happened, you can provide information via the Police non-emergency number – call 105 or go online at 105.police.govt.nz
Waea atu ki 111 me he ohotata, e tū ana rānei tētahi mea taihara, hihira rānei i taua wā tonu. Mēnā kua pahawa kē, me tuku taipitopito mā te nama ohotata-kore a Ngā Pirihimana – waea atu ki 105, toro ki te ipurangi ki 105.police.govt.nz rāne.
