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As Sydneysiders ring in the new year with fireworks, parties and drinks, police brace for a surge in calls.

The first three hours of January are the busiest of the year for police as assaults and domestic violence incidents surge, fuelled by alcohol, summer temperatures and underlying family tensions, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said.

The first three hours of the New Year sees a spike in assaults.Credit: Monique Westermann

“Most crime types decline over the holidays, but domestic violence actually increases. It is the one crime type that doesn’t decline,” he said.

Domestic violence assaults increase by 118 per cent on New Year’s Day compared to the daily average, and non-domestic violence assaults increase by 166 per cent, with a median of 157 and 224 incidents respectively, data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows. Assaults peak between midnight and 3 am.

Domestic violence also peaks on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with 78 per cent more domestic violence assaults than the daily average. Non-domestic violence assaults, however, are among the lowest of the year on Christmas Day, at 20 per cent below the daily median.

“Whilst Christmas and New Year’s Eve should be a festive season, a time of joy where loved ones come together, unfortunately, we know that some people will not feel safe in their own homes,” McKenna said.

“As people come together, some tensions may come to the forefront. There might be financial and emotional stresses associated with gift-giving and social events. Often, there’s alcohol involved … but there’s never an excuse for violence.”

Assistant commissioner Peter McKenna said policing increases across the holidays to ensure officers are available to keep people safe. Credit: Steven Siewert

Police respond to a domestic violence call every three minutes on average. In the 12 months to December, police attended over 88,000 domestic violence-related episodes, receiving an average of 439 calls regarding the issue a day.