Police are preparing to bring in the new year with the community, with a major operation planned to ensure everyone enjoys themselves and gets home safely.
The operation won't just start on New Year's Eve - from today there will be a highly visible presence in key areas, including Melbourne's CBD and popular foreshores such as St Kilda, Geelong, Lorne and Mornington Peninsula.
Police will be focused on ensuring those heading to regional areas or the city are safe, while also sending a strong message about anyone who is thinking of doing the wrong to think again.
There will be thousands of police working overnight to ensure celebrations are safe, and the operation will continue over New Year's Day to ensure everyone continues to behave responsibly and arrives home safely.
From Monday, there will be an Omni Operation in Melbourne's CBD as the area is declared a designated area under the Control of Weapons Act.
This means police will have additional powers to search people for weapons and remove them from our streets.
Police have also declared St Kilda foreshore and Geelong CBD designated areas for New Year's Eve.
General duties police will be supported by a range of specialist police including Air Wing, Public Order Response Team, Mounted Branch, Water Police and Dog Squad.
Transit police and PSOs will have a strong presence in the city, including at Flinders Street where thousands of people are expected to enter.
PSOs will also have a presence at all 212 metropolitan railway stations, and key regional hubs in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Traralgon, to ensure revellers get to and from their celebrations safely.
The road safety blitz as part of Operation Roadwise will continue until New Year's Day, with Highway Patrol units scouring the roads and conducting drug and alcohol testing on drivers.
Illegal fireworks are a continued concern on New Year's Eve, with over 60 incidents last year which resulted in a number of serious injuries and fires.
Alongside the risk of serious injury or death, fireworks are unpredictable and volatile items that can result in fires, as well as causing substantial property damage and serious injuries to those in the area.
Those caught with illegal fireworks can face a prison sentence of up to five years and thousands of dollars in fines.
Quotes attributable to North West Metro Region Superintendent Troy Papworth:
"We are well prepared for New Year's Eve with thousands of officers working right across the state to ensure it's a safe and enjoyable night for all.
"From the roads to railway stations, foreshores to key regional areas, there will be an around-the-clock, highly visible police presence right across the state.
"We will have a particular focus on the city, to ensure the hundreds of thousands of people coming in to see the fireworks display are safe.
"As always, we urge those celebrating to enjoy themselves responsibly. Look out for your mates, have a plan to get to and from your event - if you plan on drinking, do not drive.
"We've seen overwhelmingly positive behaviour at New Year's Eve celebrations in recent years, with only a small number of people choosing to do the wrong thing. Rest assured, anyone heading out to cause trouble can expect a swift response from police.
