Rising Tide Police Operation Concludes At Newcastle

A multi-day police operation conducted to ensure the safety of attendees and the wider community at a Rising Tide event in Newcastle has concluded.

At the conclusion of the operation, a total of 155 people were charged with a range of Crimes Act and Marine Safety Act offences.

Of those charged,

• 100 were charged with Disrupt/Obstruct Major Facility,
• 52 were charged with Breach Marine Exclusion Zone,
• Two were charged with Boarding Vessel Anchored at Sea, and
• One was charged with Reckless Wounding.

During the event, police called out the unsafe behaviour of several event attendees after witnessing a number of dangerous practices on the water.

Incidents of note include:

• About 9.20am on Sunday 30 November 2025, police were notified of an alleged protest aboard a ship off the Newcastle coastline. Marine Area Command, the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, and PolAir responded to the ship and arrested two women. The women – aged 26 and 37 – were taken to Newcastle Police Station where they were charged with climb onto etc vessel in navigable waters without consent, and enter etc waters within 30 metres of moored etc ship etc. They were granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Friday 16 January 2026.

• About 10.10am on Sunday 30 November 2025, police attempted to stop a boat after it allegedly entered an exclusion zone. When the boat allegedly failed to stop as directed, police pursued the boat on a jet ski east along Newcastle Harbour. The boat allegedly collided with a police jet ski a short time later, and a 26-year-old woman – the sole-occupant of the boat – was arrested. She was charged with contravene notice prohibiting/regulating use of vessels, operate recreational etc vessel negligently no death, and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. She was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday 13 January 2025.

• About 11.20am on Sunday 30 November 2025, police were called to Foreshore Park following reports of an assault allegedly involving attendees of the event. At the scene, police were told that several people had allegedly been involved in the incident where a man sustained lacerations to his back, arms, legs, and head. The 46-year-old man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and was taken to the Calvary Mater Hospital in a stable condition for further treatment. A 17-year-old boy believed to have intervened in the incident was also treated for minor lacerations. An 18-year-old man was arrested in a campsite area nearby and taken to Newcastle Police Station. There he was charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV), and wound person intend to cause grievous bodily harm (DV). He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 yesterday (Monday 1 December 2025), where he was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 4 February 2026.

• About 1pm on Sunday 30 November 2025, police arrested a 29-year-old woman after she allegedly failed to comply with a direction to leave a Marine Exclusion Zone. A short time later, the woman – who was aboard a police vessel – told police she was unwell, and she was advised to move to the side of the vessel if she was to be sick. The woman allegedly jumped from the police vessel and was required to be again apprehended. She was taken to Waratah Police Station where she was charged with enter/remain on etc cause major facility to be closed, escape police custody, and contravene notice prohibiting/regulating use of vessels. She was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 yesterday (Monday 1 December 2025), where she was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Friday 12 December 2025.

• About 5am yesterday (Monday 1 December 2025), police were called to Kooragang Island near Newcastle following reports of an unauthorised protest. Upon arrival, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District located 16 people allegedly 'locked-on' to coal processing equipment. Fifteen adults were arrested and have since been charged with enter/remain on etc major facility seriously disrupt etc use. Of those, 10 were issued court attendance notices to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Friday 16 January 2026. Four were granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Friday 16 January 2026. A 73-year-old man was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 today (Tuesday 2 December 2025), where he was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Friday 12 December 2025. A sixteenth person, a 17-year-old boy, was released pending further inquiries.

The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly; however, the priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community and police will not tolerate illegal and dangerous behaviour.