Less than two months after the tragic death of Sydney teenager Georgina Bartter, police say festival-goers still aren't getting the message on illicit drugs.
Police arrested 214 people for drug possession at the Fuzzy Field Day 2015 festival in Sydney's Domain on Thursday, turning up amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, LSD and ice.
Officers using sniffer dogs also charged two women, aged 20 and 21, and a 19-year-old man, with drug supply offences after they were allegedly found with ecstasy tablets.
NSW Police Superintendent Danny Doherty said officers were amazed festival-goers continued to flout drug laws, especially following the death of Ms Bartter in November.
The 19-year-old was found collapsed at the Harbourlife dance party from a suspected drug reaction on November 8.
She later died in St Vincent's Hospital.
"There is a lot of personal responsibility that needs to go back on the individual," Supt Doherty said on Friday.
"Having a large number of detections yesterday indicates to me that it's disappointing that people aren't getting the message.
"It's very frustrating ... Every year these music festivals or dance parties run and every year there's an increased number of detections.
"Police are just constantly shaking their heads about the fact that people are still attempting to do this."
Four people were taken to hospital suffering suspected adverse reactions to drugs at the festival, Supt Doherty said, while 88 people were ejected from the venue throughout the day for intoxication or trying to jump fences.
Police said the number of drug arrests at Field Day was a record for the event, which this year was attended by around 25,000 people.
Supt Doherty rejected suggestions the operation was overkill from police, saying the large law enforcement presence was to "maintain the safety and wellbeing of the patrons".
The New Year's Day festival crackdown comes after 221 revellers were charged with drug offences at the Stereosonic festival in Sydney in late November.
Share
