The Police Transport Command (PTC) has charged 74 people and seized weapons and drugs during a two-day operation across the public transport network in Sydney's CBD, west and south-west.
Operation Colossus deployed 272 officers from PTC across Bankstown, Cumberland, Blacktown, Sydney City, Eastern Suburbs and Inner West Police Areas Commands aiming to improving safety across public transport.
The high-visibility operation was conducted with assistance from the Dog Unit, Marine Area Command and Aviation Command between Friday (22 January 2021) and Saturday (23 January 2021).
During the operation, officers charged 74 people for a range of offences, including drug offences, property crime, outstanding warrants, breach of bail, assault police and resist arrest
Incidents of note include:
- About 2.15pm on Friday 22 January 2021, police searched a 16-year-old boy on a train between MacDonaldtown and Central Railway and found a knife. He was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station, where he was charged with custody of a knife in a public place. He was granted strict conditional bail to appear in a children's court on Monday 15 February 2021.
- About 7pm on Saturday 23 January 2021, police spoke to a 22-year-old man at Central Railway Station, he was issued a move-on direction from the area. The man walked off from police and started to swear at police. The man was warned about his behaviour but continued to swear and allegedly became aggressive towards officer. The man was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station. During the arrest the man spat at police. He was charged with assault and resist police. He will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 27 January 2021.
- About 5:45pm on Saturday 23 January 2021, officers spoke to 16-year-old boy at Cronulla Railway Station. He refused a police direction and became confrontational towards officers. More police were called to the area due to large crowds. Another 16-year-old boy attempted to intervene, before both were arrested. While being arrested one of the teens allegedly spat at police. They were taken to Sutherland Police Station. One was charged with two counts of assault police, refuse police direction, resist police and a transport offence. The other was charged with possess prohibited weapon, resist police and a transport offence. They were given bail and will appear in a children's court on Wednesday 3 February.
The Police Transport Command plan to undertake further operations in the future.
Anyone with information about anti-social behaviour on the public transport network is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
