A group of intoxicated Papamoa youths will gain unwanted national attention when they appear on Police Ten 7 tonight.

The footage follows the reality TV show's filming the work of Western Bay of Plenty Police during four weeks over January and February.

Detective Inspector Graham Bell. Photo: File.

Bay of Plenty Police communications manager Kim Perks says some 'intoxicated youngsters” from Papamoa will test the patience of police tonight from 7.30pm on TV2.

'On that night they [Police Ten 7] were out with some staff from Mount Maunganui and following up a report of a vehicle that had reversed into a parked car in Papamoa,” says Kim.

'When they arrived a young woman tried to run off and they then get her back and are talking to her and the passengers of the car. You will see she is clearly the driver and tries to deny she is the driver.”

For the four consecutive summer weeks, between Wednesday and Sunday, film crews followed different police units during the night, in what is the busier period for police.

'They basically went out and were a fly on the wall with four different shifts over that period of time.”

Kim says though the programme helps identify criminals and locate wanted people, the reality aspect of the show is a good opportunity to showcase some of the difficult situations police deal with.

Narrated by retired Detective Inspector Graham Bell, the show profiles wanted criminals and asks the public to help the police in the search for them.

Running since 2002 the show also follows the work of police officers on their patrols and other police activities.