A New Year's Eve knife attack has left a teenager in hospital and a man has been seriously injured after a party was gatecrashed in Melbourne's southeast.
More than a dozen serious assaults were reported to police overnight, but Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said it was the quietest year the force has seen in a long time.
The threat of coronavirus transmission was as a reality check for people, with many deciding to celebrate at home this year.
"I noticed a shift, and understandably so from what we've been through - no one wants to go through that again," Mr Nugent said.
"As always there are a small number of people who do the wrong thing and this year was no different."
A 16-year-old boy was the victim of a knife attack in Ocean Grove and is in hospital in Geelong.
One person has been arrested over that incident, while four people were arrested over a series of serious assaults in Cranbourne West, he said.
One victim of is in a serious condition in The Alfred hospital after assault that occurred when a party was gatecrashed.
Illegal fireworks were also a problem for police, with 10 incidents reported and three people arrested.
Two people suffered hand and face injuries after setting off fireworks in Lorne, and another two suffered similar injuries in Gippsland.
"No matter how many times you say it we just continue to see the injuries. That's the sad part," Mr Nugent said.
A dance party in St Kilda attracted more than 100 people at one point, but crowds quickly dispersed when police arrived.
Overnight officers across the state arrested 17 people for being drunk in public, 25 people for drug offences and five for weapons offences.
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