More than 20 people have been arrested and 30 charges laid following a high-visibility police operation in the state's far west.
Operation Vulcan Barrier was established by the Barrier Police District to target outstanding warrant and wanted offenders in the Broken Hill area.
Between Thursday 17 December and Saturday 19 December 2020, officers – with the assistance of Western Region Enforcement Squad, Western Region Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team, Dog Unit and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command – were deployed within the Broken Hill area between 7am and midnight.
Police made 21 arrests and laid 30 charges for a variety of offences including warrants, police pursuits, breaches of AVO, drug-related offences, breaches of bail and traffic offences.
Results of the three-day operation are as follows:
- 20 person searches
- Six vehicle searches
- Five drug detections
- Three Domestic Violence Suspect Target Management Plan interactions
- 110 random breath tests
- One search warrant, and;
- One Firearm Prohibition Order
Results for Traffic and Highway Patrol Command are as follows:
- Seven charges relating to pursuit, licence, drug, PCA and weapon offences
- 55 random breath tests
- Five random drug tests
- Two positive indications for drink driving
- Four defects issued
- Five speeding offences
- Eight Traffic Infringement Notices issued
- Three vehicle searches
- Three person searches
- One Public Health Act
Items of interest include:
About 4pm on Saturday (19 December 2020), police executed a search warrant at a home on Chapple Lane at Broken Hill in relation to the supply of prohibited drugs.
A man, aged 48, was arrested and taken to Broken Hill Police Station where he was charged with breach of bail.
The man was bail refused at Dubbo Local Court yesterday (Sunday 20 December 2020) where a bail order was made. He will appear before Broken Hill Local Court on Wednesday 28 April 2021.
About 4.30pm on Saturday (19 December 2020), police arrested a 32-year-old man wanted on warrants in Kadina, South Australia.
Police will allege the man left Broken Hill in a stolen vehicle on Friday 18 December 2020.
Extradition will be sought.
About 2.30pm on Friday (18 December 2020), a 24-year-old man was arrested at a home on Gaffney Street, Broken Hill for a number of outstanding warrants for serious domestic violence offences.
The man was bail refused at Broken Hill Local Court today (Monday 21 December 2020) and will reappear before the same court on Thursday 11 March 2021.
A woman, aged 33, was arrested following a short pursuit about 6.20pm on Thursday (17 December 2020).
She was charged with police pursuit, drive while licence cancelled, possess prohibited drug and possess or use prohibited weapon.
She was bail refused to appear before Broken Hill Local Court on Monday 22 March 2021.
Western Region Acting Assistant Commissioner, Brett Greentree, said the operation highlighted the invaluable resources made available to remote areas in Western Region.
"Operation Vulcan Barrier not only targeted outstanding offenders but reinforces confidence within the Broken Hill community that the public's safety is our top priority," Assistant Commissioner Greentree said.
"We want residents in Broken Hill to know police are out on the streets in numbers, targeting those who break the law."
