20.05.12

"All too often police and ambulance are left picking up the pieces.

"Family violence, road trauma and street violence all have major links to alcohol and the consequences to people’s health and wellbeing are enormous."

Mr Walshe encouraged people to have a good time but not let their fun get out of control.

He said the operation coincided with the start of a period where alcohol-related violence usually increased.

"With the warmer weather approaching, we typically see more people heading out to licensed venues and consuming alcohol," he said.

"This in turn is generally when assaults and drunken behaviour occur more frequently."

The fourth staging of Operation Unite in May saw more than 120 people arrested in Victoria.

Police visited more than 700 pubs, clubs and bars across the state and detected 39 licensing breaches.

The crackdown ends on Sunday.

The Victorian arm will involve officers from the Safe Streets Taskforce, Operations Response Unit, Transit Safety Division, Mounted Branch, State Highway Patrol, Razon Taskforce and other specialist areas.

Source: Herald Sun