Booze, brawls, bust-ups: Inside the police beat in party central

It's the place Brisbane goes to party, but for the police tasked with keeping order among thousands of revellers, it's one of the busiest beats in the country.

A Current Affair went along with officers in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley on a weekend patrol.

Up to 40,000 revellers can cram into the Valley's three square blocks every Friday and Saturday night.

With 76 licensed venues, it has more nightclubs in one place than any other city.

Senior Sergeant Don Dunston told A Current Affair that most of the party-goers were "well-behaved".

But officers on their foot patrols of the area had plenty to keep them occupied - including a number of outbreaks of violence.

"Unfortunately it's our officers who step into the line when there are altercations, when there are disturbances," Sr Sgt Dunston said.

"They step in to try and separate parties and often they become the focus of that violence.

Sr Sgt Dunston said that on a night like the one A Current Affair joined them for, there would be 15 officers walking the beat, with a van crew from neighbouring divisions to offer assistance.

Police on the beat undergo special training, but the trick, it seems, is being on top of things before they happen.

"We can move people on, we can ban them, or we can ask their friends to put the pressure on them to pull their head in," Sr Sgt Dunston said.

In one instance, passions flared between bouncers and patrons - but police were swiftly on hand to sort things out before it could end badly.

"We want to see everyone go home safely, and that not only goes for the patrons but for the police," Sr Sgt Dunston said.

"So if at the end of the night we can get through a night without officers being assaulted, without people being hurt that are out in the environment - that's a bonus for us."