WAIHI BEACH - Youths involved in New Year riots, some of which may have been planned, are expected to formally complain about actions the police took to quell the trouble.
The Deputy Police Complaints Authority, Judge Ian Borrin, is bracing for complaints after the three-hour running battle at WaihiBeach that involved 50 police and 1500 youths, and stoushes at other beaches such as Mt Maunganui.
Judge Borrin said yesterday that while he had not yet received any complaints, similar riots in the past had sparked protests and he was expecting to receive some in the next few weeks.
The head of police for the Coromandel-Thames district, Detective Inspector Lex Denby, said he had seen videotape of an incident in the Waihi Beach battle where an officer in riot gear appeared to kick a youth on the ground and baton him.
Mr Denby said he would reserve judgment on the tape until he had seen an enhanced version being prepared by TV3, but he added that police were not taught to kick people on the ground.
He said he would seek an explanation from the officer after he had seen the enhanced tape. The officer had not yet been identified because he or she was wearing a helmet.
"I want to find out the full circumstances first. I will be disappointed if it was excessive."
Police are expected to make a formal request for the tape today.
Mr Denby, who has promised to take stern action against police who use excessive force, said officers were justified under the Crimes Act in using significantly greater force during a riot.
He was satisfied that, in general, his officers had used the correct amount of force.
"Overseas you would see rubber bullets, tear-gas and water cannon. Here we used batons and dogs."
A theory emerged yesterday that the Waihi Beach riot may have been planned by a hardcore group of youths.
Police and Waihi Beach residents said youths had walked around the esplanade several hours beforehand trying to recruit others for a riot.
Waihi Beach Holiday Park owner Ian Smith said he had been told at 1 pm on New Year's Eve of general talk that a riot was planned for that night, but did not report the rumours because he thought they were exaggerated.
