POLICE will be out in force this weekend to ensure that the New Year does not kick in with a mini crime wave.

Yesterday Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams confirmed that extra officers will be on patrol tonight and on New Year's Eve in an effort to deter crime.

And he also advised parents to take the initiative by making sure they knew how party-going teenagers planned to see in the New Year.

An extra 30 officers will be on duty tonight while the police ranks will be bolstered by an additional 60 officers tomorrow night.

"The Bermuda Police Service will be deploying extra resources in direct relation to the New Year's Eve celebrations," Mr. Adams told a Press conference.

"Our intention is to maintain a high police presence with a view to deterring crime."

Urging parents to take responsibility for younger revellers, Mr. Adams said there had been a tradition of teenagers "getting into minor scrapes" on what for many is the biggest party night of the year.

"I would ask parents to be aware of where their children are going, what activities they will be indulging in, and whose company they will be keeping," he said.

And he also rammed home a familiar message to drivers: "Make sure you have a designated driver or alternative transport if you're going to be drinking to excess," he said.

"I would advise everyone to have a happy New Year and make sure that your celebrations are ones in which you can get up the next morning without any injury and without having caused harm to anyone else."

Police carried out a similar operation in the run-up to Christmas, with extra officers out on foot patrol.

Yesterday a police spokesman said Operation Christmas Presence had been a success, with few incidents of crime recorded over the holiday season.