The NSW Police Force’s elite, proactive unit will now have a full-time base in the Hunter region to target and dismantle organised criminal groups throughout Northern NSW, NSW Police say.
As part of the re-engineering process, and in response to operational needs and intelligence, the State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad officially launched ‘Raptor North’ yesterday (Sunday 24 June 2018).
The Hunter region will have a 23-strong team consisting of proactive investigators, Operations Support Group (OSG) operatives, Highway Patrol, and intelligence/analytical staff.
Raptor North is based within the Lake Macquarie Police District and will expand on the proven results of the Sydney-based Strike Force Raptor under the responsibility of the Criminal Groups Squad.
Officers will also draw on the resources of the National Anti-Gang Squad within NSW, which includes the Australian Taxation Office, Austrac, NSW Crime Commission, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, and other Commonwealth partners.
The team commenced trial operations in April, and their role and resources of the team will be reviewed at six-monthly intervals under the direction of the State Crime and Northern Region Commanders.
Northern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell, said while local police are regularly assisted by Strike Force Raptor, the commencement of Raptor North is a big win for Northern NSW.
"The announcement of an additional hub for Strike Force Raptor in the Hunter serves as a warning to criminal networks intent on causing harm to our community," Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
"Most recently, Hunter police teamed up with Raptor to proactively target conflicting OMCGs involved in public place shootings, arson attacks, and public place violent confrontations and assaults.
"We turned the heat up and the results speak for themselves: More than 45 operations conducted, including FPOs, search warrants, club house inspections, and criminal organisation warrants.
"This resulted in the arrest of 23 people – both members and associates of the criminal groups – with more than 60 charges laid. Further, we’ve seized guns, ammunition, prohibited weapons, drugs, and cash."
Assistant Commissioner Mitchell added Raptor North made the first successful application under the Serious Crime Prevention Order legislation.
"Strike Force Raptor had used everything in their proactive tool box – raids, arrests, FPOs, but the violence continued; so, they reached out a little further – it’s a situation for which the legislation was designed," Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
"There were 10 successful orders made, which have not only curbed violent behaviour, but have also impacted on the way these criminal groups were trying to do business.
"Strike Force Raptor has never been backward in coming forward in their targeting of criminal gangs – their relentless pursuit of illegal activity and suppressing violence in the community is welcome in our region," Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
State Crime Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, said the announcement of Raptor North and South puts all criminal groups in NSW on notice.
"NSW Police Force is continuing to strengthen its arsenal of capabilities and will exploit every opportunity to proactively target those committing criminal offences," Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
"From the outset, the goal of Strike Force Raptor has been to disrupt and disable the activities of criminal networks, including OMCG, and remove the romanticism of being in a gang – and we’re doing just that.
"Since 2009, Strike Force Raptor has made more than 4000 arrests across the state and laid almost 10,000 charges for a variety of offences, ranging from the most serious and violent through to traffic and consorting.
"We’ve engaged a range of tactics to make their illicit existence uncomfortable, and with the seizure of tens of millions in cash, drugs, and other proceeds of crime, we’ve hit them where is hurts most – profit," Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity.
Anyone with information, including relevant photos and videos, that may assist Strike Force Raptor can report it directly to investigators via the Strike Force Raptor online reporting page: https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/Default.aspx?id=49 or call Crime Stoppers.
