Alcatraz waits for Mt Maunganui's holiday hoons

Get into trouble at Mt Maunganui between now and January 2 and you're heading for Alcatraz.

Although not quite as sinister as the notorious Californian island prison, the local version will be every bit as uncomfortable as its namesake, promise police at the Mount.

They have nicknamed temporary holding cells at their station "Alcatraz", and say that if previous years are anything to go by, it will be standing room only in the converted carport and exhibit store.

The sturdy construction has a computer-equipped processing area that will hold 80 people, plus a large single cell designed to hold 80 more.

The station cellblock will accommodate a further 40 or so, making a grand total of 200 places awaiting New Year drunks, troublemakers and other assorted riff-raff.

The resort's no-liquor message appears to be taking a long time to sink in - 36 more holidaymakers were arrested on Thursday night and the number of officers in the area was to double from last night.

The deployment of extra officers comes after two busy nights since a liquor ban started at Mt Maunganui and Papamoa.

Of those arrested on Thursday night, 31 were charged with breaching the ban. On Boxing Day night, 56 arrests were made.

Having the temporary cells eliminates the need for police vans to travel back and forth over the harbour bridge ferrying those arrested to Tauranga.

"In previous years we've had to send people over to Tauranga, which was a real nuisance," says Senior Sergeant Duncan MacLeod, who designed the holding facility.

"The average stay was about six hours, but this year we're hoping the facility we've got and the production line we're adopting will have minor offenders out [on bail] in two hours."

The welcome will not be friendly. There are no seats, benches or beds and a trip to a portaloo under escort is the limit to the personal facilities.

However, ambulance staff and volunteers will be on hand to keep an eye on people who are badly affected by alcohol.

So far, the cells have "worked like a charm", says Senior Sergeant MacLeod.

Once the town's liquor ban is lifted the temporary cells will be dismantled and stored away until next year.

- NZPA