SYDNEY - A pleasant summer's day was all that was happening at Cronulla beach yesterday, 12 months after a racially fuelled riot tore through the southern Sydney suburb.
Police stepped up patrols at southern and eastern beaches at the weekend. All reports from Cronulla indicated it was quiet,New South Wales Police Minister John Watkins said, and there would be no repeat of the December 11 troubles.
"The deputy commissioner said the only people running amok at Cronulla were the little nippers running into the water, and that's exactly as it should be," he said.
"Cronulla is a beautiful beach, an icon of the Australian summer, and that's how we want and expect it to remain through today and the rest of the summer.
"However, we are ready, willing and able to take action if there are any incidents at Cronulla or indeed other beaches across this summer."
Mr Watkins said police officers were at Cronulla "in numbers" at the weekend and promised that they would continue to patrol the suburb on significant dates such as Boxing Day and Australia Day.
He said the operation to monitor Sydney's beaches after last year's violence was "money well spent".
"There are always certain elements in the community who would like to see a return to violence or antisocial behaviour," he said. "We have a responsibility to the people of Cronulla and the wider community of Sydney to make sure we've got resources deployed."
New South Wales Police Commissioner Ken Moroney has said police were monitoring some people, and there was no indication of planned attacks over the anniversary week-end.
More than 100 people have been charged with over 280 offences stemming from the December 11 riot and the subsequent revenge attacks.
