Domestics keep cops occupied

A rash of domestic call-outs was the policeman's lot in Wanganui on Christmas Day morning.

When the Chronicle called at Wanganui Police headquarters in Bell St yesterday, Constables Andy Reid and Paul Burn were on their way to deal with their fourth domestic incident in since 7am. And it was only 9.30am.

Sergeant Colin Wright later said it had been a hectic start to the Christmas shift.

By late morning things had calmed down.

"Some of them might have been spill-overs from the night before, but by about midday things were back to normal," Sergeant Wright said.

But he said they were expecting to be busy later in the day.

"It's normally peaceful through the middle of the day, but then the alcohol kicks in and we get busier.

"It's always disappointing that some people end up in these situations on this day," he said.

Like others rostered on yesterday, his Christmas dinner would come with family in the evening once his shift was over.

But he said that, apart from those domestic call-outs, the city had been quiet.