Drones will monitor the behaviour of beachgoers at summer trouble spots such as St Kilda as police prepare to crack down on violent behaviour along the coast.

Police on Sunday will launch their annual summer safety and public order campaign after several years of highly publicised violent incidents, assaults and robberies at Melbourne beaches.

Violence along the foreshore often spikes in warmer weather, police say, prompting the City of Port Phillip to ban alcohol on St Kilda beach after a series of alarming attacks last year.

St Kilda beach. Credit:Simon Schluter

This year's Operation Summersafe will begin with an increase in local police patrols and specialist resources including the Public Order Response Team, mounted branch and the dog squad.