Police have charged more than 140 people and seized numerous firearms and around 50 knives during a two-day state-wide blitz on knife-related crime.
Operation Foil III was conducted between Thursday 17 November and Saturday 19 November 2022 to target young people in possession of knives in public and other known violent offenders.
During the operation, 144 people were charged and police seized six firearms, 48 knives, and prohibited drugs and weapons.
Additionally, intelligence-led targeting of locations and people resulted in almost 1000 move-on orders and transport infringements being issued across the two days. Police also conducted around 800 bail compliance checks.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said the NSW Government remained committed to taking all necessary steps to reduce knife-related crime.
"Everyone deserves to feel safe on our streets – and those that threaten that will face the consequences," Mr Toole said.
"Knife crime can change someone's life in an instant, whether it's causing injury or death to innocent people, or for offenders, ending up before the courts.
"The officers involved in Operation FOIL have done an incredible job engaging with the community and helping prevent knife-related crimes to keep us all safe.
"Operations like this one make a real difference to our community, and the NSW Government will continue to work closely with Police on the best ways to prevent knife and youth-related crime and violence."
South West Metropolitan Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, said the model behind Operation Foil has proven successful throughout the year due to its two-pronged approach.
"We have well-resourced police using intel to identify people and areas of concern related to knife crime with a view to supress any further violence or related criminal activity," Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
"That's the overt, high-visibility side of things; bail enforcement, suspect targeting – meanwhile, Youth Command is engaging with young persons who have been deemed 'at risk' of committing violent crime.
"The use of knives, particularly by young males, is a serious concern for police, and further operations are planned to reduce their use and possession in public places," Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
Incidents of note include:
- Five youths were arrested after a 16-year-old boy was threatened with a knife before being assaulted and robbed at a shopping centre in Penrith about 5.30pm on Friday (19 November 2022). Police were alerted and officers located the group at nearby Penrith Railway Station a short time later. They were taken to Penrith Police Station and charged with robbery in company. The teens will appear at a children's court at a later date.
- Around 8.40pm on Thursday (17 November 2022), police stopped a Black Jeep Cherokee on Moverley Road at South Coogee and spoke with the driver of the vehicle – a 33-year-old man – who is subject to a weapons prohibition order (WPO). During a subsequent search of the car, police located and seized numerous mobile phones, a bottle containing around 30 millilitres of Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), an electronic stun device, cash, and more than 1.176kg of methylamphetamine. The man was arrested and taken to Maroubra Police Station, where he was charged with supply prohibited drug more than large commercial quantity, use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order, and deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000. He was refused bail and appeared at Waverley Local Court the following day.
- About 7.40pm on Friday (18 November 2022), police were conducting patrols of the Cabramatta area and stopped a grey Hyundai sonata and spoke with the 42-year-old driver. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located and seized more than $35,000 cash, an amount of methylamphetamine, a large knife, and an electronic stun device. During a further search of the vehicle, police located modifications and a device allegedly used to make the car appear as an unmarked police car. The man was arrested and taken to Fairfield Police Station and charged with deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order, possess prohibited drug, and custody of knife in public place - first offence. The Canley vale man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court the following day, where he was remanded in custody to appear at Burwood Local Court on 22 November 2022. Inquiries continue.
- About 10pm on Friday (18 November 2022), police patrolling Bondi Road at Bondi stopped a red Mazda 3 after its driver – a 19-year-old man – was seen acting suspiciously. During a subsequent search of the car, police located a concealed magnetic box which allegedly contained more than 20 bags of a white substance believed to be cocaine. The man was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with supply prohibited drug more than indictable amount, and deal with property proceeds of crime. The Schofields man was granted conditional bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday 10 January 2023.
- About 1.50am on Saturday (19 November 2022), police were called to a licenced premises on Carrington Road at Waverley following reports a staff member had been threatened with a knife. Police located and arrested a 24-year-old man and took him to Waverley Police Station, where he allegedly became uncooperative and threatened police. The man has since been charged with armed with intent commit indictable offence and intimidate police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm. He was refused bail to appear in court later that day.
