Officers attached to the Police Transport Command commenced Operation Waratah 3 in March 2025 following the success of previous operations.
Operation Waratah 3 ran for four days from Wednesday 12 March to Saturday 15 March 2025, and focused on targeting offenders involved in assaults and sexual touching incidents across the transport network including trains, buses and the Metro.
Police patrolled over 500 trains, 227 buses, 16 ferries, 12 metros and 18 light rail services and searched over 400 people when police located 17 knives, issued almost 200 move on directions and over 400 rail infringements.
During the four-day operation, 177 people were arrested and charged with 315 offences, including robbery, assault, sexual touching, malicious damage drug possession and affray.
As part of the operation, police are continuing to appeal for information on a number of incidents and have released images of several people who may be able to assist with investigations into 9 incidents.
Arrests of note include:
- Sexual touching – About 1.45pm on Friday 14 March 2025, a 48-year-old man was arrested in Chatswood for allegedly sexually assaulting a 36-year-old woman on a Sydney train. He was charged with sexually touch another person without consent. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 8 April 2025.
- Assault – About 9.30pm on Friday 14 March 2025, a 48-year-old man was arrested in Eastwood for allegedly assaulting a 29-year-old man at Auburn Railway Station in November 2024. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Burwood Local Court on Monday 31 March 2025.
- Affray – About 11am on Wednesday 12 March 2025, a 33-year-old man was arrested in Wahroonga for allegedly assaulting a 26-year-old man at Rooty Hill Railway Station in February 2025. He was refused bail to appear before Hornsby Local Court on Thursday 13 March 2025, where he was formally refused bail to reappear on Thursday 1 May 2025.
The incidents under investigation by Operation Waratah 3 include:
Incident C: About 9.25pm on Friday 27 December 2024, a 34-year-old man was assaulted at Strathfield Train Station and later reported the matter to police. As inquiries continue, police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.
Incident E: About 6.50pm on Tuesday 31 December 2024, police were called to Merrylands Train Station following reports of an assault on a train. Police were told a 41-year-old man was assaulted on a train by an unknown man. As inquiries continue, police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.
Incident G: About 9.30pm on Wednesday 11 December 2024, a report was made to police following an assault on a bus at Randwick. Police were told a 24-year-old woman was burned with a cigarette lighter by a man on a bus. As inquiries continue, police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.
Incident H: About 4.10pm on Wednesday 11 December 2024, police were called to Martin Place Metro Station following reports of an assault. Police were told a 76-year-old man was assaulted by an unknown man. As inquiries continue, police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.
Incident I: About 5.10pm on Monday 24 February 2025, police were called to Central Train Station following reports of a stealing. Police were told a man had his prescription glasses stolen by an unknown man. As inquiries continue, police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.
Incident K: About 12.20am on Sunday 26 May 2024, a report was made to police following reports of an assault at Hurstville Train Station. Police were told a 36-year-old man, who was holding a four-year-old child at the time, was assaulted by an unknown woman. As inquiries continue, police have released an image of a woman who may be able to assist police in their investigation.
Incident L: About 2.10pm on Wednesday 28 August 2024, a report was made to police following reports of an assault at Fairfield Train Station. Police were told a 15-year-old girl was assaulted by an unknown man. As inquiries continue, police have released an image of a woman who may be able to assist police in their investigation.
Incident M: About 3.40pm on Wednesday 17 December 2024, police were called to Winnima Way, Berkeley, following reports of an assault on a bus. Police were told a 66-year-old bus driver was assaulted by an unknown man following an argument. As inquiries continue, police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.
Incident N: About 1.30pm on Wednesday 8 January 2025, a report was made to police following reports of an assault on a train. Police were told a 13-year-old boy was assaulted on a train by an unknown man, before he alighted at Engadine Train Station. As inquiries continue, police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident 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.
