Police have laid more than 200 charges and confiscated almost 30 knives during a two-day police operation targeting street-level crime – including knife crime – in Sydney's metropolitan area.
Operation Saber VII is an intelligence-led initiative, focusing on people and places known to have previously been involved in knife-crime offences.
The operation, which ran over two nights (Thursday 16 and Friday 17 December 2021), and is the third such operation this year.
Officers from all 31 Police Area Commands within the Sydney metropolitan region joined forces with specialist units, including Traffic and Highway Patrol, and Police Transport Command, to conduct a proactive high-visibility police operation.
During the operation, police seized 28 knives, conducted 1043 person searches resulting in 106 drug detections, issued 284 traffic infringements and charged more than 175 people with 227 offences ranging from theft to drug and knife possession.
Additionally, police conducted 273 bail compliance checks and issued 24 criminal infringement notices. They also conducted 969 random breath tests and 84 random drug tests.
Of note;
• About 2pm on Thursday (16 December 2021), police were patrolling Bankstown CBD and responded after receiving information a man was armed with a knife in Leonard Street at Bankstown. Officers located a man allegedly armed with a knife which he dropped when sighting police. Following inquiries, police conducted a search on a nearby vehicle and a further knife was located along with drugs and mobile phones. A 30-year-old man was arrested and charged with a detention warrant. He was refused bail and appeared at Bankstown Local Court later that day. A second man, aged 26, was also arrested at the scene and charged with goods in custody, and remain on enclosed lands. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday 23 December 2021. Inquiries are continuing.
• About 10.30pm Thursday (16 December 2021), police pulled over a Holden Commodore on Attunga Road at Yowie Bay for a random beath test which was negative. The 19-year-old driver was also subjected to a random drug test which returned a positive reading to cocaine. Police searched his vehicle and will allege they located a knife. The man was arrested and taken to Sutherland Police Station where he was charged with custody of knife in public place and possess prohibited drug. He was bailed to appear at Sutherland Local Court on Friday 28 January 2022. Inquiries are continuing.
• About 3pm yesterday (Friday 17 December 2021), police were patrolling the Redfern area when they saw a man wanted on outstanding warrants. The man was arrested by officers from South Sydney Police Area Command and taken to Mascot police station. He was charged with enter dwelling with intent to steal, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, larceny and three warrants. He was refused bail and appeared in Paramatta Local Court today (Saturday 18 December 2021).
• Just before 7pm yesterday (Friday 17 December 2021), police were patrolling Norton Street at Leichhardt when they saw a man wanted on warrants. Officers stopped and searched the man and allegedly located several credit cards in different names. He was arrested and taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with goods in custody, and three warrants. He was refused bail and appeared in Parramatta Local Court today (Saturday 18 December 2021).
Police from Operation Saber VII also assisted officers attached to Strike Force Raptor on Thursday 16 December 2021 in the arrest of a 23-year-old man at Lethbridge Park. The man was wanted in relation to a shooting incident at a gym at Prospect on 29 November 2021.
Operation Saber VII Commander, Inspector Andrew Mackay, said he is very pleased with the results, and more deployments like this can be expected in the new year.
"Operation Saber VII has been an outstanding example of proactive and collaborative police work between all metropolitan regions, reassuring the community that they can go about their lives feeling safe," Inspector Mackay said.
"We will continue our focus on these types of offences, as every knife taken off the streets is one less weapon that could have been used to cause fear or violence in the community.
"The safety of the public is always our top priority and our message is – if you commit crimes, you will be caught," Insp Mackay said.
