PLEASE NOTE: NSWPF vision can be found via Hightail https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/nBUk2Udcxb
A number of knives were seized during a high visibility operation in the Illawarra, the first of its kind in regional New South Wales.
Operation Ares is a high visibility operation where officers from Public Transport and Public Safety Command used handheld scanners (electronic metal-detecting 'wands').
On Thursday 19 December 2024, forty officers Police Transport and Public Safety South West, conducted handheld scanning operations at Wollongong Train Station, Crown Street Mall and the surrounding shopping precinct between 12pm and 12am.
During the operation;
- Nine weapons were detected and seized
- 566 people were scanned
- 17 people were arrested
- 18 charges and/or other legal actions were commenced, including nine charges for custody of a knife, six for possess prohibited drugs and one person who was charged with failing to comply with the requirements of the Act. (i.e. police will allege the person refused to be scanned).
The operation was run concurrently with the state-wide Operation Foil targeting locations known for violent offending, knife crime, possession of weapons and anti-social behaviour.
