PLEASE NOTE: NSWPF Images can be found on the South Coast PD page
Police have charged 14 people and seized 7 knives, following a knife wanding operation on the South Coast.
Operation Ares is a high visibility operation in which officers used handheld scanners – or electronic metal-detecting 'wands' – in South Coast Police District, to reduce knife crime and boost community safety.
Between 9am and 9pm on Thursday 27 February 2025 and Friday 28 February 2025, officers attached to South Coast Police District and Police Transport Command carried out a knife scanning operation in Nowra CBD, Bomaderry CBD and railway station, as part of Operation Ares.
During the operation the following results were obtained;
298 people were stopped and scanned
14 people arrested
18 charges were laid, including one person failing to comply with the requirement of the Act
7 weapons detected
Notable incidents include;
About 4.45pm on Thursday 27 February 2025, police were patrolling Kinghorne Street Nowra. Police searched the woman and allegedly found a fold out knife. The 51-year-old woman was issued with a court attendance notice for custody of knife in public place. She will appear in Nowra Local Court on Thursday 20 March 2025.
About 2.15pm on Friday 28 February 2025, police were patrolling Bomaderry Railway Station, when they stopped a 40-year-old man. Police allegedly seized a leatherman knife from his backpack.He was issued with a court attendance notice for custody of knife in public place. He will appear in Nowra Local Court on Thursday 10 April 2025.
