Police have charged more than 500 people with over 1200 offences during a four-day state-wide operation targeting domestic and family violence.
Operation Amarok VIII ran from Wednesday to Saturday (13 to 16 November 2024), and involved officers from all police area commands and police districts across NSW.
The Domestic and Family Violence Registry-led operation, also involved officers from each regions' Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Team (DVHROT), along with specialist officers from Raptor Squad, Youth Command, Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, and the Police Transport Command.
In addition to the 548 people charged with 1283 offences over the four-day operation, police attended more than 100 schools and 12 U-Nites events – a PCYC-led initiative to create a safe space for young people to engage in activities – to deliver presentations on respectful relationships and coercive control.
Additionally, police conducted 138 Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance searches with 64 firearms and 17 other weapons seized.
Police also conducted 10,434 Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs) compliance checks, detecting 455 breaches.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley, says education is just as important as enforcement.
"The NSW Police Force are on the frontline of domestic and family violence, often responding at the point of crisis.
"Operation Amarok is just one way police respond to this hideous crime and keep a check on high-risk individuals to help prevent future offending. It sends a strong message that these criminal actions are not tolerated.
"Enforcement is crucial but we must stop this offending before it happens which is why police are going into schools, supporting the next generation to understand healthy relationships and giving them the knowledge and tools to recognise and take action against this behaviour."
Domestic and Family Violence Corporate Sponsor, Assistant Commissioner Peter Mckenna, said while educating the next generation was just as important as locking up the offenders, the results demonstrate that Operation Amarok VIII has again proven to be successful.
"NSW Police is committed to tackling domestic violence offenders across the state and ensuring those who are subject to prohibition orders are compliant. Those who aren't compliant, are dealt with accordingly.
"While Operation Amarok VIII successfully disrupted targeted offenders, our officers continue to work with hundreds of victims to ensure their safety.
"More than 1700 apprehended violence orders were served during the operation.
"Operation Amarok has concluded for now, but it should serve as a reminder to every domestic violence offender in NSW: you are on our radar.
"Police will continue high visibility operations to help protect victims of domestic violence," Assistant Commissioner Mckenna said.
Significant arrests included,
- About 8.30am on Wednesday (13 November 2024), detectives attached to Chifley Police District arrested a 33-year-old man after he attended Bathurst Police Station. Police will allege that 30 minutes prior, the man broke into the home of a 29-year-old woman known to him, damaged a door before threatening and assaulting her. The man was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict actual bodily harm, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (DV), destroy or damage property (DV), and contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO. The man appeared at Bathurst Local Court where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Wednesday 15 January 2025.
- About 10:20am last Wednesday, officers attached to Regional Enforcement Squad (RES) stopped a ute on Canberra Avenue, Queanbeyan. During a search of the vehicle, police seized a shotgun and ammunition. The driver, a 38-year-old man, was arrested and taken to Queanbeyan Police Station where he was charged with possess unregistered firearm – prohibited firearm, not keep firearm safely – prohibited firearm, possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority, use possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, use motor vehicle number plate obscured/defaced, and traffic offences. He appeared before Queanbeyan Local Court where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Tuesday 26 November 2024.
- About 1.25pm last Wednesday, officers attached to the Central Metropolitan Region DVHROT arrested a 47-year-old man at a home in Surry Hills. Police will allege in court the man threatened a woman known to him. He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with three counts of contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (DV), and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (DV). He appeared at Downing Centre Local Court, where he was granted conditional bail to appear before the same court on Monday 11 August 2025.
- About 2pm last Wednesday, officers attached to Oxley Police District Crime Prevention Team arrested a 51-year-old man on Marius Street, Tamworth. Police will allege the man assaulted a 47-year-old woman between 2004 and 2024, during their 21-year relationship. The man was taken to Tamworth Police Station and charged with intentionally choke etc person without consent (DV), three counts of common assault (DV), three counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (DV), destroy or damage property (DV), breach AVO, and breach of bail. He appeared at Tamworth Local Court and was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Friday 28 March 2025.
- About 2.30pm last Wednesday, officers attached to Central Metropolitan Region DVHROT attended an address in Cronulla where they arrested a 34-year-old man over domestic violence offences alleged to have occurred in September and November 2024. Police will allege in court that on both occasions, the man assaulted a woman known to him. He was taken to Sutherland Police Station where he was charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV), three counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc deception, and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (DV). He faced Sutherland Local Court where he was refused bail to appear before the same court on Tuesday 14 January 2025.
- About 6.30pm last Wednesday, officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended a home on Bondi Road, Bondi, and arrested a 49-year-old man. Police will allege in court that the man attended the home and used a 1.5m weight bar, weighing 15kg to impale the windscreen of a sedan belonging to a 43-year-old woman known to him. The man was taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with destroy or damage property, and contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (DV). He appeared at Waverley Local Court where he was granted conditional bail to appear before the same court on Thursday 28 November 2024.
- About 9am last Thursday (14 November 2024), officers attached to Blacktown Domestic Violence Team attended a home in Doonside and arrested a 39-year-old woman. Police will allege the woman was witnessed assaulting a nine-year-old child, grabbing him around the throat and holding him down on a bed. The woman was taken to Blacktown Police Station and charged with common assault (DV). She was granted conditional bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court on Wednesday 20 November 2024.
- About 9am last Thursday, officers attached to Burwood Police Area Command attended a unit on Old Canterbury Road, Summer Hill, to conduct a Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance check. During a search of the unit, detectives seized 15 firearms including 10 pistols, four rifles, a shotgun, and a variety of prohibited knives, batons and handcuffs. The occupant, a 42-year-old man, was arrested and taken to Burwood Police Station where he was charged with seven counts of possess unauthorised pistol, seven counts of possess unregistered firearm – pistol, five counts of possess unregistered firearm – not pistol/prohibited firearm, five counts of possess unauthorised firearm, and nine counts of possess prohibited weapon. He appeared at Burwood Local Court where he was refused bail to appear before the same court on Wednesday 20 November 2024.
- About 10.25am last Thursday, officers attached to Western Operations Support Group (OSG), Orana Mid-Western Police District and Western Region Rescue attended a home at Dubbo, to conduct a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO)compliance check. A 24-year-old man was arrested at the property. He was taken to Dubbo Police Station and charged with breach of bail and affray. He appeared at Dubbo Local Court, where he was formally refused bail to appear in the same court on Wednesday 18 December 2024.
- About 11.40am last Thursday, officers attached to Blacktown Domestic Violence Team attended a unit at Blacktown, and arrested a 27-year-old in breach of a current enforceable AVO. The man was taken to Blacktown Police Station where he was charged with contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (DV). He was refused bail and appeared at Blacktown Local Court on Thursday (14 November 2024).
- About 12.30pm last Thursday, with the assistance of Queensland Police officers, a 34-year-old man – wanted on outstanding warrants over alleged historic domestic violence offences in NSW – was arrested after he was allegedly found hiding in the roof cavity of a home in Ipswich. The man faced Ipswich Local Court on Friday 15 November 2024, where officers attached to Hawkesbury Police Area Command applied for his extradition, which was granted. Upon his return to NSW, the outstanding warrants were executed, and the man was charged with three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and use carriage service to threaten to kill. He faced Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday (16 November 2024), where he was refused bail to appear before Windsor Local Court on Thursday 21 November 2024.
- About 2pm last Thursday, officers attached to Southern Operations Support Group conducted a firearms and weapons prohibition order compliance checks at a home in Kanahooka. A knife, electronic stun device and identification documents, police will allege were stolen, were seized for forensic examination. A 33-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he was charged with armed with intent to commit indicatable offence, destroy or damage property, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal) two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order and goods suspected stolen in/on premises (not motor vehicle). He appeared in Wollongong Local Court, where he was granted conditional bail to appear in the same court on Tuesday 17 December 2024.
- About 7.30am last Friday, officers attached to Hunter Valley DVHROT attended a home on Tourmaline Drive, Rutherford, to arrest a 23-year-old man over domestic violence offences alleged to have occurred in August and October 2024. Police will allege that the man assaulted and threatened a woman known to him. He was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with two counts of contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (DV), two counts of armed with intent commit indictable offence, two counts of common assault (DV), two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (DV), two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV), and possess prohibited drug. He faced Maitland Local Court where he was refused bail to appear before the same court on Monday 16 January 2025.
- About 5pm Friday (15 November 2024), officers attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command attended a home in Prestons to arrest a 29-year-old man who allegedly threatened a woman at an address in Edmondson Park the day before. While being escorted by police, he allegedly spat at police and hit an officer in the face. He was taken to Liverpool Police Station and charged with two counts of contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (DV), two counts of intimidate police officer in execution of duty, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (DV), assault police officer in execution of duty, and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. He appeared before Parramatta Local Court, where he was formally refused bail to appear before Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday 19 November 2024.
- About 5.45pm last Friday, officers attached to the Southern Operations Support Group (OSG) attended an address on Amaral Avenue, Albion Park, to conduct a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance check. A search of the premises was conducted and police allegedly located several prohibited weapons and ammunition. A 31-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he was charged with two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, two counts of use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order, and possess unauthorised pistol. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday 11 December 2024.
- About 3pm last Saturday (16 November 2024), officers attached to the North West Metropolitan DVHROT attended an address in Market Street, Riverstone, to locate a 33-year-old man wanted on five outstanding warrants. Upon police attending, the man allegedly attempted to escape by climbing out a back window. He was arrested and taken to Riverstone Police Station where the outstanding warrants were executed, and he was charged with two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (DV), contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO, two counts of possess prohibited drug, four counts of shoplifting, two counts of larceny, and goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen. He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court yesterday (Sunday 17 November 2024).
- About 4pm on Saturday, officers attached to Central West Police District saw a 34-year-old man – wanted on an outstanding warrant – on Calarie Road, Forbes. The man allegedly ran from police, who drew their Tasers to effect the arrest. The 34-year-old man was taken to Parkes Police Station where he was charged with the outstanding warrant, as well as being charged with sexual intercourse without consent (DV), and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV). He was also charged with breach bail. He was refused bail to appear before Dubbo Local Court yesterday (Sunday 17 November 2024).
Information about the NSW Police Force response to domestic and family violence, can be found online: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/crime/domestic_and_family_violence.
Victims of domestic and family violence can find information about support services by contacting 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visiting: https://www.1800respect.org.au.
Reports of domestic and family-related crime or abuse can be made by contacting or attending your local police station. In an emergency, contact Triple Zero (000).
Anyone with information relating to domestic and family-related violence is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
