Auckland police have launched a crackdown on alcohol-related crime across the city over summer.
That means more officers on the beat to curb incidents of violence, which police say significantly increase during the holiday period.
Newshub went out with police on patrol on Saturday night.
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A member of the public alerted police to "that young fella over there" - an 18-year-old carrying a set of knives on his way to Christmas in the Park. He claimed he was carrying them for protection, while his friend had an open box of bourbon and colas.
The teen was arrested and taken back to the Auckland central police station.
Area prevention manager Inspector Ben Offner told us they're happy "it's another knife off the streets".
"We got it before any trouble was caused and that alcohol of course to get, as well the knife... It could have been trouble down the road."
That's what Operation Summer is all about - prevention. There'll be a focus on the central city, particularly the weekends leading up to Christmas and New Year, meaning an extra 30 officers on the beat every Friday and Saturday night. Staff from Counties-Manukau and Waitemata are coming in to Auckland City to assist.
There'll also be an increased number of booze bus stops at areas heading in and out of the CBD. At the district command centre there'll be more eyes monitoring cameras across the city.
Those eyes spotted a breach of a liquor ban at Myers Park near Karangahape Rd. On our arrival police found three teens making their way through 36 cans of bourbon and cola.
"That equates to 12 cans each, so potentially quite a messy night ahead for them if they had of gotten through them," says Constable William Kerr.
These officers caught the trio early, after having only opened one can. They were given warnings and made to tip out each drink.
Police say the majority of public place assaults over the summer period take place in Auckland's CBD, but police hope that by intervening early in situations like this it'll stop things from getting much, much worse.
"We don't want people to be so drunk that they fall over and become victims themselves or create other victims through their actions," says Const Kerr.
But unfortunately not every incident can be prevented, like a fight we were called to in Newmarket. Two groups of young men were brawling on the road; one fell to the ground and was stomped on. Ambulance staff were called in and the man was taken away for treatment. Others involved fled the scene.
This fight happened before midnight, but police say nearly half of all public place assaults occur in the early hours between 2am and 4am.
Officers hope seeing this incident will remind people to look out for themselves and their mates when on the drink.
Newshub.
