Vic police unite against booze, violence

Alcohol abuse, violence and anti-social behaviour will be targeted by police in central Melbourne, Geelong and Mildura as part of Operation Unite.

Unite is the multi-jurisdictional operation across Australia and New Zealand that focuses on public order offences. The eighth such operation begins on Saturday night.

Operation Unite Victorian commander Assistant Commissioner Jack Blayney said intelligence suggested Melbourne's CBD, Geelong and Mildura had a higher incidence of public order offending.

"Alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour is not acceptable at any time of the year," he said.

"Police focus on these issues all year round, but this operation is an opportunity to highlight the ongoing action taken by police each and every weekend.

"We know people may be heading out to let their hair down or head away for a break over the long weekend and we will be out in force to detect and deter any public order offences."

In Victoria, Operation Unite will involve uniformed police, the operational response unit, the transit safety division, state highway patrol officers, water police and taskforce Razon liquor licensing officers.

The last operation, in December last year, led to 76 arrests, 460 penalty notices and 22 liquor licensing offences out of 512 licensed premises visited by police.

Operation Unite will run in Victoria from 6pm (AEST) on Saturday to 6am on Sunday.