Extra officers will swarm the streets tonight in a bid to combat trouble over the busy New Year weekend.

The policy of increased visibility that Bermuda Police rolled out in the run up to Christmas will continue on Friday and Saturday night, it was confirmed yesterday. Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams said there would be about 30 extra officers on duty on tonight and 60 additional officers on New Year?s Eve.

He could not confirm what the total number of officers on patrol would be after these increases, as he said that figure varied in each area.

Patrol numbers would be boosted by temporary transfers from several departments, he confirmed, including traffic, narcotics, serious crime as well as reserve members.

Mr. Adams said the potential flashpoint Christmas period had been ?relatively quiet?.

And officers are hoping that will continue when numerous New Year celebrations break out across the Island.

The Assistant Commissioner said the aim of the high-profile Police policy was to prevent crime, respond to public order problems, prevent injuries, protect property and ensure traffic kept flowing on the Island?s roads.

He warned parents to be aware of what their children were doing over the New Year period, and who they were spending it with.

He said the Service had faced ?challenges? in the past with youths who had got themselves into trouble and Police resources had been wasted getting them back home.

Echoing a pre-Christmas message sent out by the force, he called for people who planned to drink to excess to make sure they had a designated driver to get them home. Mr. Adams also called for vigilance over bladed weapons.