A major police operation across NSW has resulted in the seizure of knives and weapons as part of a two-day blitz.
Operation Foil ran from Thursday 19 December 2024 to Saturday 21 December 2024, with 500 officers from every police area command and police district in NSW – assisted by specialist officers from Youth Command, Police Transport and Public Safety Command, and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command – targeting locations known for violent offending, knife crime, possession of weapons and anti-social behaviour.
During the high-visibility operation, 62 weapons were seized with 70 people arrested and more than 350 charges laid.
There were more than 900 people searched and more than 450 move-on directions.
Police made more than 160 drug detections, performed 6600 random breath tests, issued more than 380 traffic infringement notices, with more than 450 bail compliance checks conducted on alleged violent and recidivist offenders.
North West Metropolitan Region's Operations Manager, Superintendent Guy Magee, said the high-visibility operation aimed to remove dangerous weapons and make streets safer.
"Operation Foil was again a success with police seizing 49 knives, six firearms, and seven other weapons, demonstrably fewer weapons in the hands of potentially high-risk individuals," Supt Magee said.
"Operations such as this are about keeping members of the public safe from people who may potentially use them to frighten, harm or intimidate others.
"We know knife violence can have devastating consequences for both victims, and those people carrying or using knives: their decisions can change lives.
"We are still concerned with the number of people who choose to carry knives and will continue to run operations like this to keep the community safe."
Operation Ares was run concurrently with Operation Foil, where officers from Public Transport and Public Safety Command used handheld scanners – or electronic metal-detecting 'wands' - at Parramatta and Wollongong on Thursday 19 December 2024 and Blacktown on Friday 20 December 2024.
The Parramatta Transport Interchange, Wollongong Train Station, Crown Street Mall in Wollongong and Blacktown Transport Interchange precinct were declared designated areas under Part 4A of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002.
During the operation, 1112 people were searched with a scanner. Police arrested 55 people and there were 82 charges laid, with 24 weapons seized across the four locations.
Incidents of note include:
- As part of Operation Ares, about 9.30pm on Thursday (19 December 2024), officers from Public Transport and Public Safety patrolling Parramatta Square arrested a 16-year-old boy. During a search he was allegedly found in possession of an 8cm folding knife, hatchet and items suspected of being stolen. The boy has been charged with custody of knife in public place, have custody of an offensive implement in a public place, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. He was granted conditional bail to appear at a children's court on Monday 3 February 2024. At the same time, police allege a 14-year-old boy threw a knife down a drain on Darcy Street, which was recovered and seized. That boy has been charged with custody of an offensive implement in public place. He will appear at a children's court on Tuesday 7 January 2024.
- As part of Operation Foil, about 11am on Thursday (19 December 2024), officers attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command were called to a shopping centre in Liverpool, after a 20-year-old woman approached a security guard and allegedly showed him a knife in her waistband before she walked away. A short time later, police arrested the woman and allegedly located a 20cm black-handled kitchen knife. She was taken to Liverpool Police Station and charged with armed with intent commit indictable offence, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal), and custody of knife in a public place. She was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Friday 20 December 2024, where she was formally refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday 7 January 2024.
- As part of Operation Foil, about 5.30pm on Thursday (19 December 2024), police from Inner West Police Area Command were called to Yabsley Avenue, Marrickville, following reports of an alleged brawl between young people who were armed with bricks and sticks. The groups were separated and no one was injured. Police will allege a 17-year-old boy produced a kitchen knife from his pants. He was arrested and taken to Newtown Police Station where he was charged with custody of a knife in a public place. He was refused bail to appear at a children's court on Friday 20 December 2024, where he was granted bail to appear at a children's court on Wednesday 15 January 2025.
- As part of Operation Foil, about 5.15pm on Friday (20 December 2024), police from Camden Police Area Command were called to Waterworth Drive, Mount Annan, following reports of an argument. When police stopped a 15-year-old boy nearby they allegedly found a silver kitchen knife in his waistband and four more knives in a backpack. A short time later, police located another 15-year-old boy in a car park and they allegedly found a silver kitchen knife in his bag. He was also arrested. Both boys were taken to Narellan Police Station and dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
- As part of Operation Foil, about 4.50pm on Friday (20 December 2024), police were patrolling Parker Street, Penrith, when they stopped and searched a car. The driver, a 35-year-old man, was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station. Officers allegedly located $20,000 in cash, a small black knife in the driver's side door and a box cutter in the glove box. Inside the boot, police allegedly seized 1305 tablets (587g) of MDMA, with an estimate potential street value of $39,150. The man was charged with supply prohibited drug more than large commercial quantity, possess prohibited drug, custody of a knife in public place, and recklessly deal with proceeds of crime. He was bail refused to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday (21 December 2024), where he was formally refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Monday 13 January 2025.
