In a coordinated operation on earlier in the afternoon, several uniformed officers as well as detectives arrested the seven people at various locations in Inverell.

Inverell Inspector Rowan O’Brien told The Inverell Times the arrests were in relation to “ongoing issues in the southside area”.

He said police had responded to the public order incidents and following investigations, expected to charge several people with offences such as affray and offensive conduct.

“A number of arrests have been made and further are anticipated,” Inspector O’Brien said late on Monday.

“Seven people are in custody and are being questioned by investigators and that relates to ongoing issues in the south-side area.

“Police expect to charge several people in relation to incidents on Tuesday, February 13 and on Sunday February 18.”

The arrests come after two reported brawls took place on the south side of Inverell over the weekend.

The first disturbance occurred at 9.30pm on Saturday when the police responded to a call on Waratah Avenue.

There was no actual fighting when the police arrived, but there were large groups of people gathered on the street yelling out abuse, police claim.

Police said bottles were thrown at their vehicles and officers were required to stay in the area for eight hours in order to maintain the peace.

Two men, aged 15 and 19 years,  received infringement notices for offensive language.

A 40-year-old woman arrested at the scene was charged with offensive conduct and two counts of malicious damage.

Officers will allege she defaced police property while in custody. She has since been granted bail to front Inverell Local Court on March 8.

Police said the second incident took place at 8pm on Sunday when police were called to the same scene.

A number of bottles and sticks were allegedly thrown as officers arrived and additional police resources had to be called into the area.

Following their arrival, police said many of those involved retreated to nearby properties. 

A Samurai sword was allegedly recovered from a front yard upon inspection of the area.

Police spoke to a number of people regarding the incidents and gathered more information.

Footage will be reviewed with persons identified as having committed public order offences.

During the melee, police confirmed that a dog running around on the road died after being hit by a police vehicle that was responding to the original calls for assistance. A passenger vehicle was also tapped by the police car during a reversing maneuvre. 

Inspector O’Brien is currently meeting with different stakeholders to quell ongoing issues. The police are also working with the Department of Housing. 

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“It is very disappointing for the entire community that police resources were tied up over the weekend effectively baby-sitting a bunch of people who resorted to public displays of violence,” Inspector O’Brien said.

“I trust my staff and I are not the only members of the community that are totally appalled by this type of behaviour both at the scene and from those being processed back at the police station.

“Our enquiries into both incidents are ongoing, and for anyone that is identified participating in these moronic actions they can expect they will receive little sympathy from us when we come knocking on their doors.”

Residents in the area say that the fued between the two central families - of around fifty members each –  had been ongoing for a month and had been escalating. There is concern that children witness such acts.