9 Dec 2012

Trade protest underestimated by police

7:08 am on 9 December 2012

Police in Auckland say they did not expect a protest outside Skycity on Saturday to turn as violent as it did.

A group of 150 protestors outnumbered police outside the venue for Trans Pacific trade talks.

Only five or six officers were there when the protestors tried to enter Skycity.

A fire was started in a nearby street and two police officers were attacked and kicked numerous times.

Two people were arrested - one of whom was caught stomping on the head of a police officer.