Sydney's metropolitan transport network was saturated by more than 190 officers over the weekend in a high-visibility operation targeting crime in transport hotspots.
Operation Colossus was conducted on Saturday (5 October 2019) and involved officers from Police Transport and Public Safety Command and targeted all modes of transport. It extended as far as Newcastle in the north, west past Penrith and down to Wollongong.
The operation focused on improving safety across the public transport network to reduce alcohol and drug-related crime, anti-social behaviour and graffiti/ malicious damage offences.
During the operation, officers made 31 arrests for a range of offences, including assault, possession/ supply of prohibited drugs or weapons, outstanding warrants and traffic infringements.
Officers searched a total of 147 people, issued 145 move-on directions, and 405 infringement notices for a range of offences.
Of note, police arrested a 25-year-old man after a short foot-pursuit at Sydenham Railway Station. He was wanted for questioning over an alleged sexual assault in September.
The Waterloo man was taken to Kogarah Police Station where he was charged with two counts of sexual assault and breach AVO. He was refused bail and appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday 6 October 2019.
A 20-year-old man was also arrested after a vehicle search in Werrington where police located a machete, MDMA, Viagra and a small amount of cash. The items were seized, and the man will appear in Penrith Local Court on Tuesday 29 October 2019.
Acting Commander of Police Transport and Public Safety Command South-West, Acting Superintendent Sheridan Waldau, said operations on public transport play an important part in community safety.
"These high-visibility police operations on public transport go a long way in making our streets and transport networks safer, especially when we are able to locate and seize numerous knives and drugs and execute outstanding warrants.
"The public can expect similar operations to continue to occur later in the year in an effort to reduce crime and increase public safety on and around public transport.
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.
