Seven people have been charged following a three-day high-visibility surge operation focused on preventing and disrupting crime in the state's north.
From Thursday (19 February 2026) to Saturday (21 February 2026), general duties police from New England Police District were assisted by specialist officers from the Operations Support Group (OSG), Youth Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol, POLAIR and the Dog Unit Western Region, to target and reduce crime in the Moree area.
PolAir-Remote was deployed to assist with the operation, during which seven people were charged with a total of 10 offences.
An additional 10 people were issued Future Court Attendance Notices and Field Court Attendance Notices for 10 further offences.
Officers conducted 10 person and vehicle searches, one firearm prohibition search, 18 ADVO and bail compliance checks, and made five drug detections.
Youth Command officers also engaged with over 40 young people within the community through events, local school visits and NRL pathways work.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command conducted 224 random breath tests, and 126 roadside drug tests - 16 of which resulted in secondary positive results. They also issued four defects, 43 Traffic Infringement Notices, and five traffic charges.
Significant incidents included,
· On Friday 20 February 2026, a 39-year-old man - wanted for an outstanding warrant - was arrested on Oak Street with the assistance of POLAIR. He was taken to Moree Police Station where he was charged with break and enter dwelling-house etc with intent (steal), break and enter house etc steal value less than or equal to $60,000, possess prohibited drug, fail to appear in accordance with bail acknowledgment, and breach of bail. He was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 5 on Saturday 21 February 2026, where he was formally refused bail to face Coonamble Local Court on Tuesday 10 March 2026.
· On Saturday 21 February 2026, a 45-year-old man was arrested on Frome Street and taken to Moree Police Station where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV), steal from the person value less than or equal to $2000, and breach of bail. He was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 5 on the same day (Saturday 21 February 2026) where he was formally refused bail to face Moree Local Court on Tuesday 19 May 2026.
Future surge operations in Moree will again utilise PolAir-Remote to target and reduce crime in the area.
Anyone with information about region-based crime is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
