Christmas security crackdown on beaches

A SECURITY crackdown on Sydney’s beaches will be extended over Christmas after further racial violence over the weekend was averted with police arresting seven men with Molotov cocktails and confiscating scores of weapons.

Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said yesterday that as calm returned to the beaches, police numbers would be reduced but 800 officers would be scheduled on duty until the end of January to deal with the threat of violence.

"I will continue this operation for as long as it takes to bring about that restoration of order," Mr Moroney told reporters.