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Scores of extra police officers are rostered on across the Hunter to curb trouble during tonight's New Year's Eve celebrations.
Newcastle's foreshore is a major drawcard and police have been briefed on strategies to reduce violence and anti-social behaviour.
Newcastle Local Area Police Commander, John Gralton, says there will be more than 100 officers working across the city, putting unruly revellers on notice.
"We're well prepared and we want to see people coming into the city and certainly enjoy it, have some fun," he said.
"The message is quite simple.
"It is don't behave like a goose yourself.
"There is a lot of personal responsibility about a person's behaviour.
"It's up to them in relation to how they do behave."
Superintendant Gralton says under age drinkers will also be on the radar.
"We want the families to come in and enjoy it," he said.
" We want the young people to come in and enjoy it too but if you're underage you shouldn't be drinking at all and if you are found to be drinking we will be calling parents and responsible adults to come and deal with their kids.
" We want parents to know where their kids are and to make sure that they're being responsible."
Superintendant Gralton says he has seen too many police beaten and bruised in ugly incidents and will not tolerate officers being targetted during tonight's celebrations.
"There's nothing more important really to me I suppose is the community safety, and certainly the safety of my police officers because they're out there doing a tough job in a tough environment at times, and their safety is paramount and people need to respect the police and the job that they do," he said.
Meanwhile, Newcastle Council is promising family-friendly events this New Year's Eve.
The Council's Mark Stratford says the foreshore will be a hive of activity.
"We have the traditional fireworks," he said.
"There will be firings at 9pm (AEDT) and also at midnight.
"There'll be amusement rides, there'll be food, there'll be entertainment.
"DJ Dover will be playing family friendly music from about 6pm near the frog pond area of the foreshore."
The RSPCA's Hunter Manager Samantha Shanahan is urging pet owners to keep their animals inside during any fireworks displays.
"Especially if they are going out to enjoy the festivities, try to find a place where they can leave their animals inside or get a family member to mind them, or even a family member to come over and keep a watch on them, while the fire crackers are going off," she said.
"Because if you aren't at home the animals can get anxious and with the fire crackers they do find ways to get out of the yards."
Fireworks displays and other events are also planned in other locations across the region.
Topics: police, local-government, newcastle-2300
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