Police Crackdown: Learner Charged in Sydney Pursuit

Police have laid 36 charges, issued 165 traffic infringements and arrested a leaner driver over an alleged pursuit following a proactive operation targeting dangerous driving and marine activity in Sydney's south overnight.

Yesterday evening (Saturday 21 February 2026), officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command - with assistance from officers attached to St George Police Area Command, Marine Area Command, Dog Unit, Police Transport Command, Mounted Unit, PolAir, Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - commenced Operation Spoiler in the Brighton Le Sands and Botany Bay Foreshore areas.

Operation Spoiler is a high-visibility policing operation targeting criminal activity, anti-social behaviour, drink-driving and road-related offences. As part of this operation officers were also targeting operators of vessels on Botany Bay.

During the operation police laid 36 charges for driving, assault, and drug offences. Officers also issued 165 traffic infringements, 13 marine related infringements, two transport infringements and six infringements for other matters.

As part of the operation police also checked vehicles extensively for defects with 13 red labels being issued causing those vehicles to be towed from the area. Police also issued 21 yellow defect notices requiring those vehicles to return home.

While police were managing the operation, officers detected a Holden Commodore allegedly speeding on King Georges Road, Penshurst, about 1.50am today (Sunday 22 February 2026).

Police directed the driver to stop; however, when they allegedly failed to do so a pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit was terminated a short time later in Padstow Heights, due to safety concerns with PolAir monitoring the Holden's location.

Police continued to track the Commodore by air until the driver abandoned the car on Tompson Road, Panania, before running into a nearby backyard.

Officers attended the scene and arrested the alleged driver - a 19-year-old man - before taking him to Bankstown Police Station.

During the arrest, police searched the driver and allegedly located small bags of methylamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis on his person. All the substances were seized to undergo forensic testing.

He was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive at speed, learner exceed speed more than 20 km/h, learner exceed speed more than 45 km/h, learner not accompanied by driver/police officer/tester, learner driver not display "L" plates as prescribed, enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, possess drug (not cannabis leaf/MDMA) not exceed small quantity, and possess prohibited drug (two counts).

The man was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Local Court 7 yesterday (Sunday 22 February 2026).

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