News Service from House Harris

Qld: 124 people charged in one night at Schoolies

BRISBANE, Nov 23 AAP - Police have arrested 124 people for 139 offences in one night during Schoolies Week on the Gold Coast.

However police praised the behaviour of school leavers on Saturday night asonly 24 people of the 124 arrested were actually schoolies participants.

Among the 24 school leavers charged, 21 were male and three were female.

One schoolie was charged on drug offences and 19 schoolies were charged with public nuisance.

Gold Coast District Superintendent Jim Keogh said of the non-schoolies 58 were arrested for public nuisance as well as 42 for a range of other offences.

"I'm pleased to see that there was less alcohol-fuelled behaviour overnight, but I'm urging anyone who isn't a school leaver to avoid schoolies activities," Superintendent Keogh said.

"Although we've had some good weather in the past 24 hours, the ocean can still be dangerous at night.

"I'd like to remind schoolies to always swim between the flags and rememberthat swimming in the dark or when affected by alcohol is dangerous," he said.

AAP djbjfm=0A