Sydney Over-taken By Alcohol-fuelled violence As police Boost CBD Presence Fol,lowing Weekend Attacks

RAW: Vision has emerged of police officers responding to a brawl in Sydney's CBD on Saturday night. Police will boost their numbers and increase their visibility across Sydney's CBD to combat anti-social behaviour after a weekend of alcohol-fuelled violence in the city. Officers were kept busy during a weekend that featured numerous violent incidents, including a mass brawl involving 30 people.

Police initially said the incident involved 200 people as it broke out in a laneway near the Metro Theatre concert venue and then spread down George and Pitt streets, about 3am on Sunday. An investigation has begun into what sparked the fight with one nearby resident saying he woke to screaming and shouting, and from his balcony filmed as a woman knocked another to the ground. Advertisement The brawls, he said, lasted for at least half an hour and police were moving between different locations trying to break up separate fights. "There was a bunch of smaller skirmishes. It looked like there was a lot of people around and I think there were a lot of people fighting in a lot of different places," the man said. Acting Inspector Steve Hodges said police thought the fights were connected, but it was not known if those involved had left the concert venue or had just gathered in the area. After responding to "dozens" of alcohol-related violent incidents in Sydney, Assistant Commissioner Mick Fuller warned that drunken behaviour would not be tolerated and urged people to take responsibility for their behaviour. "We could have avoided almost all of these incidents if people used better judgement and drank responsibly," Mr Fuller said. "[T]here are still people who cannot exercise restraint when drinking and have either injured themselves or harmed others." In an incident on Friday night, two men were charged after a group of women were assaulted during a hen's night celebration. "Everyone has the right to go out in Sydney at night, have a good time and not be accosted by drunks," Mr Fuller said. "We want to see people out having fun, but we are extremely concerned by the level of intoxication we are seeing in some people every night. "It's time to start taking responsibility for your actions. Know your limits – drink sensibly, plan ahead and think about others," he said. As an extra measure, police also promised to clamp down on licensed premises to ensure they are compliant with the Liquor Act. The spate of weekend violence brings Sydney's controversial lockout laws into focus. On Friday, Alan Jones blasted NSW Premier Mike Baird for ignoring recent protests about the laws which critics say are shutting down the city. But crime statistics appear to show the lockout laws have resulted in fewer instances of violent crime. In February, Mr Baird launched a passionate defence of his signature policy which he said had made Sydney "safer and more vibrant than ever".