5 Feb 2012

Police hoping for calm Sevens celebration

6:10 am on 5 February 2012

Police in Wellington say they are ready for the massive post-Sevens street party.

Despite the wet conditions on Saturday, the police are expecting large numbers in the city's entertainment area, Courtenay Place.

Courtenay Place is closed off between Taranaki Street and Kent Terrace for a big street party.

Police say about 100 officers will be on duty on Saturday night.

They say there had been four arrests by 10pm on Saturday, for minor disorder such as fighting.

Police say most fans were well behaved on Friday. Thirty-seven people were arrested, mostly for breach of the liquor ban and disorderly behaviour.

Twenty-eight people were evicted from the stadium on Friday for trying to bring in alcohol and have been stripped of their entry tickets for both days of the tournament. A further 25 were refused entry.

Wellington Free Ambulance says crews at the stadium were easily able to cope with revellers suffering from heat exhaustion and intoxication on Friday. Three people were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

There is a triage centre on Courtenay Place on Saturday night after the final, as was the case for last year's Rugby World Cup.