Tricia Walters and photographer, Glenn Tucker spent New Year?s Eve with the Police Support Unit (PSU) patrolling the streets of Hamilton. This is their story

Police Headquarters briefing. Insp. Steve Donnelly gives Police Officers a breakdown of what parties, night-clubs and public events are to be monitored during the night.

One team is to be dispatched to St. George?s to monitor the party at the square, while another unit will be deployed to Hamilton. Each team is made up of about eight officers.

We?re to accompany Acting Sergeant Alex Hayward from forensics. It?s his job to monitor any situation and record as much detail on video camera. Insp. Donnelly feels the strong Police presence on the streets will make a difference this year in the number of incidents.

. ? Police visit just about every bar and night-club in Hamilton to check liquor licenses. Insp. Donnelly says it will show owners and managers that the Police are out in full force and won?t tolerate any kind of unlawful activity. However, the streets are pretty much deserted still as revellers slowly arrive by taxi on Front Street.

? Police drive up Court Street towards Middleton and St. Monica?s Road.

We never stay in one place too long, but move around the city centre in an almost repetitive mode, sometimes going around the corner and back down the same street twice.

A small group of people have gathered at the empty parking lot/playground in Court Street where a makeshift DJ has set up a booth and is playing Marvin Gaye. Police slow down and keep an eye on the Spinning Wheel where a party is being held.

. ? We?re parked on Front Street when a call comes in. Someone reports a man being beaten near City Hall by two assailants. We get to the area, but after going around the block numerous times, don?t spot anything out of the ordinary. Still Police question two teenagers who are sitting at the temporary bus stop. A garbage can has been kicked over and its contents spills onto Church Street. No sign of the victim or the culprits.

? We make our way back to Front Street where a crowd has started gathering in front of Ozone nightclub. They?re standing on Front Street singing and dancing.

Two girls report it?s $80 to get in to Ozone and they?re going somewhere else, somewhere cheaper. At the stoke of midnight Police officers call their families on their mobile phones. The New Year comes in with a peep as opposed to a bang as Hamilton?s streets are still virtually deserted except for the small crowd of about 30 on Front Street. The Salvation Army Band comes marching up Front Street and are followed by members who wave to everyone as they go by.

. ? A call comes in that a PSU truck has been in collision with a motorcyclist on Church Street.

On the scene we find a man lying on the ground, his hand being held by a tearful companion as they await the ambulance. Police interview a family of four who witnessed the accident. Our escort, Acting Sergeant Hayward, gets to work filming the area while traffic is diverted and we?re soon surrounded by rubbernecks in various stages of alcohol-induced euphoria.

? Police are standing near the kerb lighting the road with their torches when a man on a motorcycle runs into them. One officer falls down, but gets up to help the others pull the culprit to his feet and up against a wall. He?s arrested for driving under the influence. Another officer moves the motorcycle to discover that it?s unlicensed. He?s quickly put in the back of the van and taken to Hamilton Police Station.

. ? We?re back on Front Street in front of the Ozone night-club as Police rush into the building following a report of a fight inside. Two men are brought out and a young woman, who is injured, refuses help from paramedics and leaves. The club decides to close for the night as the men are taken to Hamilton Police Station.

. The crowd outside the nightclub has almost tripled in size as revellers from St. George?s have arrived to join others at Ozone. As it?s closed, they all stand around in a dazed state. Girls as young as 16 are throwing up on the sidewalk and trying to convince the Police to take them home.

Less than twenty people remain on Front Street trying to get taxis. There are none. Police officers in the group comment that this happens every year. People either walk home or sleep it off on the street because of lack of public transport.

Before we make our way to Champions on Reid Street, another young man is escorted to the Hamilton Police Station for swearing at his girlfriend as well as Police as they intervene.

. We?re outside Champions just keeping an eye on things, but it?s quiet and Police are confident it will stay this way.

Champions is the only place still open in Hamilton as most of the clubs and pubs have closed, but it?s a small club and many are left standing on the street.

Police make one more sweep up Court Street.

The power has gone out and a man has pulled his car up to the parking lot/playground to play music.

Even in the dark the handful of revellers are still dancing. Police ask the man to turn the music down and he complies.