While it's quiet on the streets it appears alcohol related violence is to the fore with Hamilton Police dealing with dozens of domestic violence incidents over the weekend.
This morning officers were still interviewing a man alleged to have assaulted his female partner in Paeroa before driving her back home to Hamilton last night.
Hamilton Family safety Team Supervisor, Sergeant Alan McGlade said the female victim required treatment by ambulance staff but declined to be taken to hospital.
"Hers is just one case of dozens our officers had to deal with where alcohol played a factor in assaults in the home.
"Where as we can place a lot of staff in the City's CBD to crack down on public place alcohol related violence it's very hard to counter front loading in the home and the tragic results."
With pressure mounting with Christmas and school holidays rapidly approaching Mr McGlade had some advice for families to avoid problems over the summer break.
• Watch your spending, over spending often leads to pressure when the bills mount up
• Take time out, sometimes with all the family in each others hair it's necessary to take a breather
• Set a budget and stick to it- a key factor in making it through the summer
• Ease up on the alcohol, alcohol is a major contributing factor to violence, pace yourself and don't blow your cool and look like a fool
• Don't spend all your time on top of one another- plan activities that give you breathing space and identify areas or issues likely to cause pressure
• Seek advice- various agencies offer assistance on relationships, budgeting and managing stress, take advantage of them
In terms of public place alcohol related violence and impaired driving Waikato Police maintained a business as usual approach to the Australasian Alcohol Action operation, Unite.
Waikato Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leop Tooman, said the District already had a high profile alcohol strategy over the holiday period that Operation Unite was just one part of.
"Within the City, as part of the Hamilton Alcohol Accord, Police work with partner agencies on Operation Live- identifying the root cause of alcohol violence. This looks at whether problems were caused by over consumption in bars or because of front-loading before patrons come into town?
"The other initiative is Operation Mello-yello, lifting the profile of Police, Hamilton City Council City Safe staff and bar security to address perceptions central city safety while each year we have a high profile drink driving campaign."
Mr Tooman said over Friday and Saturday nights 5190 drivers were stopped at checkpoints around Hamilton with 22 drivers facing prosecution for driving with excess breath alcohol.
"12 of those were apprehended on Friday night while 10 were arrested Saturday, in addition two people face prosecution for other alcohol related offences on Friday and one for Saturday.
"In the CBD last Friday was reported as the quietest one on record with just two alcohol related arrests recorded when the average is around 24," said Mr Tooman.
With much of the publicity over Operation Unite focused on it being an alcohol action 'day' the City was much busier Saturday night and arrest numbers reflected this.
The number of alcohol related arrests in Hamilton on Saturday reflected the larger crowd numbers with approximately 24 alcohol related arrests made.
"The public needs to be aware that as far as Waikato Police are concerned alcohol impaired driving and alcohol related violence remain a priority and people can expect to encounter a highly visible Police presence any where in our District- any time," said Mr Tooman.
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