Hamilton Mayor Lawson Mapp is hopeful, but not confident, of a trouble-free New Year's Eve.

Mr. Mapp, re-elected in October, has welcomed the increased policing for New Year brought in to prevent a repeat of the fighting outside Number Six Shed last year.

Two Police Support Unit teams will be out on December 31 following intensive public order training in the past few weeks - only one team was on duty last year when around 300 people were involved in trouble following a wedding reception.

"You cannot say there won't be any trouble," Mr. Mapp told The Royal Gazette.

"Of course I am hoping for a trouble-free New Year, but people get all frolicky and then anything can happen.

"I welcome the Police's doubling up on the night, anything that we can do to try and stop the anti-social behaviour is another step in the right direction."

But Mr. Mapp bemoaned the decline in behaviour in recent years in Hamilton, particularly on Front Street, where he feels alcohol is causing too much trouble.

"Things just seem to be getting out of hand nowadays," he said.

"Every Monday when I pick up The Royal Gazette, I am always surprised when I don't read about fights on Front Street over the weekend.

"Under the influence of drink, or some substance or another there is a lot of fighting and anti-social behaviour. Most Bermudians are well-behaved but things seem to be getting worse.

"Certainly since my day things have changed, but even in the last couple of years things are getting worse - I think we are just living in a different age."