Ticket confiscations ‘a confusion’
New Mardi Gras have denied they instructed police to confiscate Sleaze Ball tickets.
Police confiscated 12 tickets during the evening from people allegedly found to be in posession of drugs.
A spokesman from the NSW Council of Civil Liberties said it was not within police jurisdiction to confiscate tickets, even if charges have been laid against an individual. However, he said tickets could be confiscated at the behest of event or venue operators.
New Mardi Gras co-chair Steph Sands said the organisation gave the police no such instruction.
“It is certainly not NMG policy that tickets be confiscated,” Sands said.
“We do acknowledge there was some confusion between security, police and the venue about this during the operation. Most tickets were confiscated because people were deemed under the licensing provisions to be under the influence.
“This judgement, as for any licensed premise, is at the discretion of the licensee.”
Sands said NMG’s stance on the issue would be made clearer to patrons in future, and there would be more detailed discussions between police, security and venue operators about procedures.
Surry Hills Supt Donna Adney declined to comment on who instructed police to confiscate party tickets.
None of the 17 people charged after the Sleaze sniffer dog raid were found guilty at recent court appearances.
this is bullshit
i was not deemed to be under the influence when i was arrested, the police said it was at the behest of nmg. there might have been confusion with the nmg staff but the police confused?? and when does the police act for the licensee?
at the point my ticket was taken i was charged only, not found guilty of a thing. and later the case dismissed.
and donna adney decilnes to comment on who instructed plice to confiscate. surprise surprise.