Thousands of police across Victoria have worked around-the-clock, keeping a close eye on New Year's Eve celebrations to ensure the community could bring in 2022 safely.
Uniform, plain clothed and specialist police saturated Melbourne's CBD to monitor crowd behaviour and maintain public order as thousands of people gathered to watch the fireworks displays.
A significant police presence was also in place at key areas across the state, including the St Kilda foreshore, Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast and Phillip Island.
As part of the New Year's Eve operation across the state, police made 48 arrests.
Operation Omni was activated in the CBD, St Kilda foreshore, Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast and Phillip Island, providing officers with additional search powers under the Control of Weapons Act.
Provisional statistics for the night indicate there were:
• 14 people arrested for assault/affray
• 34 arrests for other offences comprising:
o 12 weapons offences
o 11 drunkenness
o 8 drug-related offences
o 1 robbery
o 2 sexual assaults
• More than 1000 weapon searches conducted
• About 4200 preliminary breath tests conducted
o 13 people were detected drug or drink driving
Quotes attributable to Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent
"New Year's Eve is one of our biggest statewide policing operations, with thousands of our officers working hard at all hours of the day and night to keep the community safe."
"Overwhelmingly our police saw great behaviour by crowds overnight, both in the city and at suburban and regional community celebrations, with people taking responsibility for their own behaviour and looking out for their mates."
"There were a small number of people who did the wrong thing. Those people faced a swift response from police so celebrations weren't spoiled for the broader community."
