50 people have been charged following an unauthorised protest in the Hunter region this morning.
About 10am (Sunday 16 April 2023), officers attached to Newcastle City Police District, along with specialist police resources, attended Tourle Street, Sandgate, in relation to unauthorised protest activity.
Police spoke with a group of 50 people who entered the railway corridor, with a portion of those people who had climbed onto a train carriage.
47 people were issued court attendance notices for offences including obstructing a railway (locomotive), assist in obstructing a rail locomotive, aggravated enter inclosed lands and interfere with business, and enter inclosed lands.
During the event, it is alleged two more people damaged property and a third person assaulted a security officer, all while attempting to gain entry onto the railway corridor.
All three were arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station.
A 32-year-old man was charged with common assault and assist in obstruction of rail locomotive or rolling stock.
A 59-year-old man was charged with destroy or damage property, cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock, and enter inclosed non-agricultural lands interfere etc business.
They were both granted bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 1 June 2023.
A 47-year-old man was charged with destroy or damage property, assist in obstruction of rail locomotive or rolling stock, and enter inclosed non-agricultural lands interfere etc business.
He was bail refused to appear before Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Monday 17 April 2023).
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.
