Two women have been charged after police officers were allegedly hit by beer bottles while trying to move a group of about 3000 Christmas party attendees in Sydney's east.
Police were called to Little Bay, south of Maroubra, on Monday afternoon after reports of the large backpacker event and arrived to find a large gathering of people drinking, singing and dancing.
As police were trying to move party-goers away from the beach, (an alcohol-free zone), up to nearby Pine Avenue, two women – aged 23 and 25 – allegedly threw beer bottles at two officers.
"The people at the party were intoxicated, they obviously in a festive mood. A majority of people were compliant with police actions," Superintendent Karen McCarthy said.
"However there was a small isolated incident that did occur in Pine Avenue and that resulted in the two females being charged with assaulting police in the execution of their duty."
One of the officers suffered a cut to their temple, while another officer was not injured.
Supt McCarthy said she had found out later a third officer had also been injured by an unknown person throwing bottles.
Police had to use pepper spray to bring the matter under control, Supt McCarthy said.
Footage of the aftermath of the party shows officers attempting to disperse the gathering.
One video posted on Facebook shows at least four women being pushed to the ground, including two who landed on the road, as officers doused others with pepper spray.
Randwick City Council Mayor Lindsay Shurey praised the police response to the "drunken beach party".
"The police response shut down the party very quickly and helped prevent any serious accidents or major injuries amongst the highly intoxicated revellers," Ms Shurey said in a statement on Tuesday.
"I condemn the behaviour of those backpackers who attacked and assaulted police by throwing bottles - this is un-Australian."
Stephen Minshaw, who was injured, said police were hitting people with batons as they tried to leave.
"I don't get why the police needed to use force," he told the Seven Network.
"We're backpackers, we're not going to... fight back against them."
He denied the party had got out of hand.
Other social media users responded to the footage by labelling the police response as "unnecessarily violent", "ridiculous" and going "way too far".
Supt McCarthy said she was aware of the footage circulating online but could not comment any further as the matter was now before the court.
But she did say officers had "deployed appropriate tactics in order to deal with the alcohol-fuelled violence and to bring the matter under control" and police were wearing body cameras at the time.
The incident unfolded as officers were trying to move people on from the beach via public transport.
Two women aged 23 and 25 were charged with assaulting a police officer, while the younger was also charged with causing actual bodily harm.
They are expected before Waverley Local Court on January 31.
- with AAP
