Police have charged seven people and issued more than 25 infringements as part of a high-visibility operation targeting anti-social behaviour in Parramatta.
Officers from Parramatta Police Area Command, assisted by North West Metropolitan Region Operations Support Group, the Dog Unit, Strike Force Raptor and the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command conducted the two-day operation to prevent, disrupt and respond to alcohol and drug-related crime across the Parramatta CBD, including serviced apartment complexes.
During the operation on Friday (16 October 2020) and yesterday (Saturday 17 October 2020), police issued 26 infringements notices and charged seven people with offences including affray, drink-driving, custody of knife in a public place and breach of bail.
More than 1,220 roadside breath tests and 24 roadside drug tests were conducted, with seven defect notices issued. In addition, more than 125 people and more than 30 vehicles were searched.
Incidents of note include:
- About 7pm on Friday (16 October 2020), police were patrolling when they observed a 34-year-old man. Checks revealed he was wanted on an outstanding warrant and he was arrested. He was taken to Parramatta Police Station where the warrant was executed for an affray incident. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 25 November 2020.
- About 7.30pm on Friday, the driver of a Honda Accord, a 31-year-old woman, was stopped on Dirrabarri Lane. She was subjected to a random breath test which returned a negative result. During a search of the vehicle, police located a knife on the dashboard. It was seized and the woman will be issued with an infringement notice.
- About 9.40pm on Friday, police stopped a 49-year-old man on Dirrabarri Lane. During a search of the man, officers located a stolen driver licence. He was arrested and taken to Parramatta Police Station where he was charged with goods in personal custody suspected being stolen and breach of bail. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday 19 November 2020.
- About 12.30am yesterday (Saturday 17 October 2020), police stopped a vehicle on Dirrabarri Lane for the purpose of a random breath test. The driver, a 29-year-old man, allegedly returned a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Parramatta Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.165. He was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive with high range PCA. He is due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 25 November 2020.
- About 9pm yesterday, a 25-year-old man was issued with a Criminal Infringement Notice for offensive conduct following a brawl involving a group of males on Dirrabarri Lane. Police will allege the man became aggressive and yelled at officers when they intervened.
- About 9.50pm yesterday, a group of people exited a minibus on Dirrabarri Lane, before two males became involved in a physical altercation. Police intervened and arrested a 27-year-old man. He was taken to Parramatta Police Station where he was charged with affray. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 25 November 2020.
Parramatta Police Area Commander, Superintendent Julie Boon, said the community can expect to see high-visibility police deployments across Parramatta to increase public safety.
"We have seen more incidents of anti-social behaviour in recent months and we want people to be able to feel safe and not have to worry about street-level crime in the neighbourhood," Supt Boon said.
"Parramatta is a vibrant community and operations like this put police on the front foot to prevent crimes occurring.
"The results demonstrate a significant disruption to local crime in the area and we will continue to work in collaboration with our specialist units in an effort to decrease anti-social behaviour and drug and alcohol-related violence."
Anyone with information about anti-social behaviour and drug and alcohol-related crime is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
