A total
of 170 people, including children, have been arrested in Newcastle for
allegedly defying directions by New South Wales Police during an anti-fossil
fuel protest at the world's largest coal port.
Dozens of protesters on kayaks and small water craft paddled out
on Newcastle Harbour on Sunday morning.
Standing on the beach, a police officer using a loud speaker told
those gathered on the sand they could be breaking the law if they entered the
shipping channel.
NSW Police said just after 10am on Sunday a large group of people
entered the shipping channel and interfered with the movement of vessels.
As a result police said 170 people had been arrested over unsafe
behaviour in the water, serious disruption of a major facility and other
offences.
Of those arrested, 156 were adults and 14 were children.
Protesters
were removed from the water by NSW Police during the demonstration. (Supplied: Rising Tide)
Thousands of people have gathered in
Newcastle over the past few days for what activism group Rising Tide has called
"the people's blockade" of the world's largest coal port.
The police operation on the harbour is continuing and police
aren't ruling out further arrests.
"NSW Police will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to actions
which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels," a statement
said.
Ten people also needed assistance from officers to return to
shore, police said.
Police disappointed
infant seen on kayak Assistant Commissioner David Waddell, Commander of the Northern
Region, says police were disappointed by the safety risks taken by some
protesters.
David
Waddell was disappointed by the risk taken by some protesters. (ABC News: Harriet Tatham)
"We had 34 people who were required to
be pulled out of the water by the Police Marine Area Command or divers,"
he said.
"We had 10 people that required assistance back to shore by
Water Police because they couldn't get back to shore themselves.
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