![NYE revellers told to expect extra police presence, booze bus NYE revellers told to expect extra police presence, booze bus](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/mark.kearney/ce730c70-2c08-4435-a29b-c50fd814eda3.jpg/r0_0_4813_2706_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
New Year’s Eve revellers can expect to see an increased police in Bendigo tonight in a bid to prevent anti-social behaviour.
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Thousands of people are expected to visit the Bendigo central business district tonight with two fireworks displays planned from the Rosalind Park poppet head.
Acting sergeant Marcus Uren advised partygoers to drink alcohol in moderation and avoid dehydration by keeping up their water intake.
He also told drivers they could expect to undergo a random breath test at traffic stops during the New Year period.
The safe driving message follows the death of a driver in Pyramid Hill yesterday.
But New Year’s Eve crowds in Bendigo were well-behaved in recent times, the acting sergeant said, and he expected those celebrating tonight to act just as responsibly.
Holidaymakers who ring in the New Year in Echuca will also see more police officers on patrol, a spokesman for the north Victorian station said today.
In Melbourne, a record number of police are set to patrol the city tonight as 500,000 people are expected to celebrate in the state’s capital. Some streets and thoroughfares will also be closed to the public.
The extra precautions come after this month’s Flinders Street car attack that killed one man and injured at least 18 others.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday asked Victorians to be undaunted by recent events.
"We won't be defined by these tragedies, as impactful as they are, as much as they hurt,” the premier said.
“Everyone has a heavy heart when they think about what happened last week, but we’re not going to be cowed by this.”