Police have charged ten people following a three-day high-visibility operation focused on preventing and disrupting crime in the state's northwest.
Between Thursday 19 March 2026 and Saturday 21 March 2026, officers attached to Oxley Police District – assisted by officers attached to Operation Soteria, Western Region Operations Support Group, Youth Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and the Dog Unit – saturated the Tamworth area under Operation Soteria to target and reduce crime.
As a result of the operation, police arrested and charged ten people with a total of 21 offences.
There were also 27 people issued with Court Attendances Notices.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command performed 483 random breath tests and 36 random drug tests, of which 11 allegedly returned a positive result to an illicit drug.
In addition to this, 129 traffic and speeding infringement notices were issued.
Youth Command officers also attended three community engagements with over 300 youths in attendance.
Incidents of note:
• About 3.30pm on Thursday (19 March 2026), a 27-year-old man was arrested at a home on Matthews Street, West Tamworth, for allegedly having an outstanding warrant for alleged weapon, drug possession and breaching bail orders related offences. He was taken to Tamworth Police Station where he was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 5 the following day (Friday 20 March 2026). The man was remanded in custody to reappear at Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday 8 April 2026.
• Shortly before 10pm on Friday (20 March 2026), police stopped a 36-year-old man riding an e-scooter along Goonoo Goonoo Road, South Tamworth, for allegedly not wearing a helmet or displaying a mounting light. It will be further alleged that as police were speaking with the man, he rode from the scene and collided with a fully marked police vehicle nearby before running from the location. After a short foot pursuit, the man was arrested and searched, where it will be alleged the man was found in possession of a firearm, ammunition, methylamphetamine and a quantity of cash. He was taken to Tamworth Police Station and charged. The North Tamworth man was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Court 5 yesterday (Sunday 22 March 2026). The man was remanded in custody until Monday 30 March 2026 at Tamworth Local Court.
• About 7.30pm on Saturday (21 March 2026), a man wanted for alleged domestic violence related offences was arrested at a premises on Goonoo Goonoo Road, South Tamworth. The 37-year-old man was taken to Tamworth Police Station and charged before he was granted conditional bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Monday 13 April 2026.
