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NSW Police give major warning on NYE parties in bid to crush short-stay chaos

Author
news.com.au,
Publish Date
Fri, 31 Dec 2021, 3:23pm
A series of public order incidents have taken place during parties across Sydney. Photo / NSW Police
A series of public order incidents have taken place during parties across Sydney. Photo / NSW Police

NSW Police give major warning on NYE parties in bid to crush short-stay chaos

Author
news.com.au,
Publish Date
Fri, 31 Dec 2021, 3:23pm

Partygoers across New South Wales have been warned to behave at short-stay accommodation over the festive period, as police clamp down on bad behaviour. 

The plea comes amid a rise in trashed rentals caused by out-of-control gatherings which are more often leading to calls to police. 

Images released by NSW Police show the full extent of the chaos with houses hit with thousands of dollars damage. 

Blood is seen smeared on beds and walls in one photo while another shows power-points destroyed and windows smashed. 

Among the chaos in Sydney was an altercation between two 20-person groups at a gathering in Schofields. 

A smashed window at a short-stay property. Photo / NSW Police 

Both groups refused to speak with police or riot squad members who attended. 

Every room in the four-bedroom property sustained damage as well as multiple holes in the walls, broken windows and furniture, damage to kitchen appliances and a broken fence. Multiple items were also reportedly stolen from the home. 

Another incident in Wentworth Point, saw 16 revellers arrive armed with knives, a hammer and sticks before a fight broke out. 

Rentals have been the site of wild parties. Photo / NSW Police 

An 18-year-old girl was later reportedly hit in the head with a bottle and cut her feet on broken glass. 

NSW Police Corporate Sponsor for Alcohol-related Crime, Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell, appealed to rental owners in a bid to quash similar wild parties. 

"Police are concerned about the increasing number of public disorder incidents, where homes are being seriously damaged, and the safety of attendees and the broader community is being threatened," he said. 

"Anyone who would be disrespectful enough to trash another person's property would obviously not care about a corporation-imposed party ban, so the onus for protecting the property lies mostly with the owner. 

"If you are renting out your property, we encourage you to build strong relationships with neighbours who can keep you notified of concerning activity. 

NSW Police are urging owners of short-term rental accommodation to do their due diligence when accepting bookings. Photo / NSW Police 

It comes after Airbnb attempted to crack down on New Year's Eve parties by making it more difficult to book accommodation to stay on December 31 and January 1. 

Airbnb users who don't have a history of positive reviews will be banned from making one-night reservations of entire home listings. 

These users will also face tough restrictions on two-night bookings that Airbnb deems could pose a risk of "disruptive" parties, including the inability to make certain local and last-minute reservations. 

A bloodied pillow was left behind after one stay. Photo / NSW Police 

Guests who have a history of positive reviews will not be subject to these restrictions. 

The rules come as part of Airbnb's indefinite global ban on parties and events at its listings, which has been in force since August last year and includes a cap of 16 on guests. 

The restrictions on New Year's Eve bookings were trialled in 2020 and have been reintroduced for a second year. 

- by Holly Hales, news.com.au

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