'Mad Friday' passed off with only minor incidents of disorder in Exeter city centre, according to a councillor who joined police on patrol.
Deputy Lord Mayor Rob Newby was out walking the streets with police until 3.30am on Saturday and said the few scuffles he witnessed were relatively minor compared with the booze-fuelled mayhem often seen across the country as many workers celebrate the start of the Christmas holidays.
He added that temporary urinals set up in the city centre for one of the busiest weekends of the year appeared to be popular and well-used.
"There were a few arrests early in the evening for anti-social behaviour at St David's Station," said Councillor Newby. "But in town it was pretty quiet on the whole and everyone was well behaved.
"People were getting drunk and enjoying themselves. There were a couple of minor scuffles – that's inevitable when you have so many people in such a small area trying to enjoy themselves, but it wasn't that bad.
"It was pretty good for a night that could have different consequences, as it has in the past.
"When I left at 3.30am it was pretty much well behaved for a Friday night – I have seen them being a lot worse."
The Help Zone at the Mint Methodist Church in Fore Street was open to provide care and assistance for people whose night out had taken a turn for the worse.
"There were a couple of people in there being looked after when we went there," said Councillor Newby. "It seems to be doing the job it was set up to do, which is to try to relieve the pressure on ambulances taking people to A&E and free up police officers."
Street urinals are being trialled on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in two locations – Bailey Street, close to Timepiece nightclub, and just off Mary Arches Street, close to Mosaic and Club Rococo.
"I saw at least four people using them, and they weren't shy in doing it," said Councillor Newby.
"Hopefully it means staff arriving for work on Saturday morning didn't have to paddle through urine in shop doorways."
