Police yesterday hailed their high profile New Year?s Eve operation a success as there was no repeat of the gang trouble which marred last year?s celebrations and only a handful of arrests.

Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith put 150 officers on duty overnight after last year?s New Year ended in violence with large groups of youths fighting on Front Street.

Possible gang trouble almost flared at Devonshire Recreation Club when youths who were reportedly wielding weapons approached the club over the field on New Year?s Eve.

But a large Police team arrived within minutes and the potential trouble-makers ran off.

An hour later, a fight broke out at the club and Police were again called, but it was broken up without arrests.

Two women were arrested for causing a disturbance outside Fire Station in Hamilton, and a man and a woman were also booked after Police were called to a domestic fight at Kilderry Estate, Devonshire.

The women was arrested for attacking a male Police officer causing him minor injuries to the arm.

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said yesterday: ?During peak hours, there were 150 officers on duty.

?This pro-active approach can be directly credited with the low number of incidents that took place this year.

?In most cases, where incidents were unfolding, Police responded swiftly with the appropriate resources.

?At the peak period, the Police presence was very visible in key areas such as licensed premises, places where we knew there would be large numbers of people such as Front Street, Devonshire Rec, and St. George?s.

?With the key deployments, we think the sheer numbers, and the sheer presence of Police officers was a deterrent.

?And also, the pre-New Year?s Eve message was a very clear message to would-be trouble-makers that their bad behaviour would not be tolerated.?

Referring to the incident at Devonshire Rec where a group of youths reportedly carrying weapons approached the club, Mr. Caines said: ?It is hard to say if it was gang-related, but it certainly had the potential to be a very, very violent situation.?

At the traditional New Year?s Eve lowering of the onion at St. George?s, there was a high profile Police presence which ensured the festivities passed off without incident.

The heavy Police crackdown follows the violence which marred the New Year?s celebrations last year.

There were large scale fights when a crowd of around 300 people spilled out of a party in Number Six Shed on Front Street.

But just before 1 a.m. yesterday, Front Street was extremely quiet with less people in town than on a normal Saturday night.

In other incidents, a 54-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of drink driving.