Police have charged 84 people during a proactive two-day high-visibility operation to disrupt and prevent crime across the public transport network.
Operation 'Disrupt' was conducted by officers attached to the Police Transport Command (PTC) on Thursday (2 February 2023) and Friday (3 February 2023), with the assistance from the Dog Unit.
The intelligence-driven operation targeted violent crimes, knife and weapon offences, and anti-social behaviour – both on public transport and at transport hubs.
During the operation, police arrested and charged 84 people with 94 offences – including 59 people charged with drug offences – and seized nine knives and a range of prohibited drugs.
Incidents of note include:
- About 8.50am on Thursday (2 February 2023), a 32-year-old man was stopped at Blacktown Railway Station by officers attached to PTC North West. The man was searched with officers allegedly locating a knife. The man was given a court attendance notice to appear before Blacktown Local Court on Thursday 16 March 2023.
- About 6.30pm on Thursday (2 February 2023), a 26-year-old man was stopped at Glenfield Railway Station by officers attached to PTC South West. The officers searched the man, allegedly locating knuckle dusters and a small amount of a prohibited drug. The man was given a court attendance notice to appear before Campbelltown Local Court on Monday 20 February 2023.
- About 1am on Friday (3 February 2023), a man has allegedly assaulted another man on a bus on Glebe Road, Hamilton South, causing serious facial injuries. Police located and arrested a 42-year-old man a short distance away. He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was refused bail and appeared before Newcastle Local Court on Saturday 4 February 2023, where he was formally refused bail.
- About 2pm on Friday (3 February 2023), a 55-year-old man allegedly approached a 33 and 50-year-old woman before sexually touching them. Officers attached to PTC North Central arrested the man on board a train at Central Station. He was taken to Day Street Police Station and charged with sexually touch another person without consent and common assault. He was given conditional bail to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 22 February 2023.
Operation 'Disrupt' is an ongoing high visibility deployment lead by Police Transport Command, targeting anti-social behaviour, alcohol related crime, and drug and knife crime across the public transport network
