A major police operation across NSW has resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of knives, firearms, and prohibited drugs.
Operation Foil ran from 1pm Thursday 26 September 2024 until 1am Saturday 28 September 2024, and saw more than 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 – target knife crime and anti-social behaviour.
During the high-visibility operation, police seized 45 knives, 12 firearms and seven other prohibited weapons, with more than 355 charges laid.
Additionally, police detected,
- 42 people arrested over outstanding warrants
- 155 drug detections
- 295 Traffic Infringement Notices issued, and
- 230 Transport Infringement Notices issued
Police also performed 1200 random breath tests and more than 555 bail compliance checks.
North West Metropolitan Region's Operations Manager, Detective Acting Superintendent Guy Magee, said Operation Foil is designed to remove weapons from the streets.
"Knife crime continues to be an issue across the state and, operations such as these, are about keeping the community safe," Acting Supt Magee said.
"It is concerning that we still have a small portion of the community who choose to carry knives; but rest assured, we will continue to run these operations in the future, so if you plan on carrying a weapon, expect to be caught."
Operation Pivot was also run in conjunction with Operation Foil, from Monday 23 September 2024 until Wednesday 25 September 2024, and saw officers visit 77 schools in metropolitan and regional areas and speak with 6655 students.
In addition, police conducted 105 high-visibility patrols of schools and known youth crime hot spots, along with 215 home visits.
Youth Command's Superintendent Sam Crisafulli said Operation Pivot aims to reduce crime through early intervention and engagement with young people.
"We want young people to think about the consequences of their actions, as one wrong decision can dramatically change your life," Supt Crisafulli said.
"Since it began in 2021, Operation Pivot has seen police engage with more than 4400 at-risk youths across NSW, and deliver anti-violence presentations to 1387 schools, educating 214,401 students."
Incidents of note include:
- About 10am last Thursday (26 September 2024), officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Police District executed a search warrant at a home on Bucca Road, Bucca, where they seized two .22 calibre rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun, four gel blasters, ammunition, a slingshot, knuckle dusters, substances believed to be cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, cannabis, dexamphetamine, oxycodone, and methylamphetamine, as well as cash. A 28-year-old man was arrested and charged with 35 offences in relation to drug and firearm offences; he was refused bail to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on Friday 27 September 2024, where he was granted conditional bail to appear at the same court on Tuesday 26 November 2024.
- About 2pm on Thursday, officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command stopped a motorcycle on Braesmere Road, East Hills, before the rider – a 36-year-old man – removed his helmet and allegedly used it to strike a male constable to the head. Police deployed OC spray and two Taser cartridges with no effect, before they wrestled the man to the ground and handcuffed him. Inquiries revealed the motorcycle was allegedly stolen, and police located a knife, extendable baton and credit cards after searching a bag. A male constable suffered a concussion and was taken to hospital, while a female constable sustained minor injuries. The rider was taken to Bankstown Police Station and charged with 17 offences, including assault police, and use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention. He was refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court last Friday (27 September 2024), where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Thursday 10 October 2024.
- About 5pm last Thursday, officers attached to New England Police District were patrolling Anne Street, Moree, when they located a man wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant. While officers were arresting the man, he allegedly threw an item into the front yard of a nearby property. During a search of the man, police allegedly located a knife and drugs. The man was taken to Moree Police Station. About 6:45pm, police executed a search warrant on a property on Anne Street, Moree, and located and seized a gel blaster. A 37-year-old man was charged with possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place, possess prohibited drug, custody of knife in public place, and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. He appeared in Inverell Local Court last Friday, where he was refused bail to appear before Moree Local Court on Monday 18 November 2024.
- About 3:55pm last Friday, a fight allegedly involving a 14-year-old boy and a number of other males occurred on a bus, stopped at the intersection of Mitchell Drive and Stronach Avenue, East Maitland. Police were told the boy allegedly produced a knife during the incident, before the group left the bus. Officers attached to Port Stephens Hunter Police District attended and arrested the 14-year-old boy in a nearby carpark. He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with use knife in public place – cause person to fear for safety. He was given conditional bail to appear before a children's court on Thursday 17 October 2024.
- About 8pm last Friday, officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command were patrolling Central Avenue, Manly, when they saw a man allegedly enter and then exit a black SUV. Officers stopped the vehicle in Woods Parade, Fairlight, and during a search of the male driver and passenger and the car, allegedly located and seized MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and cash. The 26-year-old driver and 32-year-old passenger were taken to Manly Police Station. Both men were charged with supply prohibited drug, three counts of supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity), deal with property proceeds of crime and possess prohibited drug. Both men appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday 28 September 2024 and where both refused bail to reappear at Manly Local Court today (Monday 30 September 2024).
Anyone with information about knife crime 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.
