Hundreds of DV arrests across state

Police have charged more than 550 people during a four-day operation targeting the state’s most dangerous domestic and family violence offenders.

Operation Amarok VI ran from Wednesday to Saturday (15 to 18 May 2024), involving every police area command and district across the state.

The Domestic and Family Violence Registry led Operation Amarok VI, which also involved officers from each regions’ Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Team (DVHROT), along with specialist officers from Raptor Squad, Youth Command, Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, and the Police Transport Command.

During the four-day operation, police arrested 554 offenders and laid a total of 1070 charges. Significantly, 226 of those arrested were wanted by police for serious domestic violence offences.

The Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley says Operation Amarok sends a strong message to perpetrators of domestic and family violence. ‘These results show how seriously the NSW Police Force take domestic and family violence – this abhorrent behaviour is not tolerated.

‘Anyone who commits this heinous crime can expect a knock at their door,’ she said.

‘Operation Amarok is just one part of the police response. Last year, almost 150,000 calls for assistance were made to the NSWPF for domestic violence-related matters. This shows the severity of the situation, the huge amount of police time and resources that go into addressing this epidemic and how important it is for prevention, early intervention and crisis support services to work together.’

Police commitment

NSW Police Executive Sponsor for Domestic and Family Violence, Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell, said the results of Operation Amarok VI demonstrate the Force’s commitment to tackling domestic violence and arresting offenders, no matter where they are.

‘NSW Police officers respond to incidents of domestic and family violence every single day, and Operation Amarok enables police statewide to conduct a targeted blitz of those who have been flagged as the worst domestic violence offenders.

‘These offenders pose a significant threat to their victims, as well as family members and the wider community,’ he said.

‘We demonstrated last week that we will target and arrest the offenders no matter where they are located. We saw significant arrest numbers in our regional communities, and we also saw arrests for offences that occurred allegedly while the offender was in jail.

‘These Amarok VI results send a powerful message to offenders, and the community at large, that we do not tolerate domestic and family violence in any form, and our efforts will continue.’

Other results from Operation Amarok VI include the engagement of 548 offenders classified as dangerous; 122 Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance searches, 1277 bail compliance checks conducted with 144 breaches detected, and 422 Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs) served.

Significant arrests

Police made mention of a number of significant arrests across the four day operation, including the following:

• A 55-year-old man has been charged following the alleged assault on a 62-year-old woman at a residence on Mitchell Circuit, Port Macquarie on Wednesday 24 April 2024. Following inquiries, officers attached to the Mid North Coast Police District attended a residence on Church Street, Port Macquarie about 12.45pm on Wednesday 15 May 2024, where they arrested a 55-year-old man. He was taken to Port Macquarie Police Station where he was charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic), destroy or damage property (DV) and common assault (DV). He was granted conditional bail to appear before Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday 5 June 2024.
• A 53yo man was arrested in West Kempsey following an alleged domestic assault. About 12.50pm on 15 May it’s alleged the man and a 47-year-old woman had an argument inside a home on Colin Tait Avenue, West Kempsey. During the argument it’s alleged the man used an imitation firearm to threaten the woman before police were called. Officers from Mid North Coast PD searched the home and located and seized an imitation firearm along with an amount of cannabis. He was taken to Kempsey Police Station and charged with multiple offences. He was bail refused and appeared at Kempsey Local Court the following day.
• A 32-year-old woman has been charged following the alleged assault of a 37-year-old woman at a residence on Leith Street, West Kempsey, about 10.30am on Thursday 16 May 2024.Officers attached to the Coffs Harbour Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team, arrested the woman and took her to Kempsey Police Station where she was charged with common assault and contravene prohibition / restriction in AVO. She was refused bail to appear before Kempsey Local Court on Thursday 16 May 2024, where she was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Wednesday 11 September 2024.
• About 6.30pm on Thursday 16 May 2024, police were called to a residence on Facey Crescent, Lurnea following reports of an assault. On arrival, officers attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command spoke to several people at the scene who told police a 16-year-old girl had assaulted two people. The 16-year-old girl was arrested at the scene and taken to Liverpool Police Station, where she was assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Liverpool Hospital for treatment for a minor injury. Upon her release from hospital, she was taken back to Liverpool Police Station, where she was charged with two counts of common assault (DV) and two counts of contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (domestic). The 16-year-old was granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Monday 20 May 2024. A 37-year-old woman was also taken to Liverpool Police Station where she was charged with common assault (DV) and was granted conditional bail to appear before Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday 21 May 2024.
• About 6.40am on Friday 17 May 2024, police were conducting pro-active duties and attended a home on The Avenue at Corrimal. A Firearms Prohibition Order and a Weapons Prohibition Order were served on the occupants before police conducted a search of the home. During the search police located and seized allegedly stolen number plates, an amount of prohibited drugs, and a knife. A 43yo woman was arrested and taken to Wollongong Police Station where she was charged with multiple offences. She was given conditional bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court on 25 June 2024. Inquiries are continuing and further arrests are anticipated.
• About 12pm on Friday 17 May 2024, officers attached to the Leichardt Police Area Command were called to a home on White Street, Lilyfield, following reports of an assault. Upon arrival, police were told a 23-year-old woman had allegedly assaulted a 27-year-old man. The man was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment, while the woman was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where she was charged with common assault (DV). She was granted conditional bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 29 May 2024.
• A man will be extradited to Sydney today after being arrested in Queensland over an alleged domestic violence related assault. On 8 May 2024, a woman was allegedly repeatedly assaulted at a home in Roselands. The woman was taken to Canterbury Hospital with fractured ribs, facial injuries, bruised kidney, as well as bruises to her torso and legs. Officers from Campsie PAC have been investigating the alleged incident. Following inquiries, Queensland Police arrested a 31-year-old man on 17 May 2024 after a warrant was issued for his arrest for the offence of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm (DV). Police will allege the man stomped on the woman repeatedly during the assault. He is expected to be extradited to Sydney today (Monday 20 May 2024).
• A 25-year-old man was arrested by officers from Coffs Clarence Police District after he allegedly assaulted a woman before then assaulting two officers when they attempted to arrest him. During the alleged incident, on 17 May 2024, the man fled after assaulting the officers; however, was located and arrested a short time later. The man allegedly continued to be aggressive and violent towards the police during his arrest. He was charged with breach ADVO; resist arrest (x2); assault police (x2); intimidation (DV), and intimidate police officer. He was Bail Refused, to appear at Port Macquarie LC on 18 May 2024.
• A 23-year-old woman was arrested in Ivanhoe, in the state’s west, after she allegedly stabbed a relative about 2.30am on 17 May 2024. A 37-year-old woman received multiple stab wounds to the abdomen, head, and back and was taken to a local hospital where police were called. The woman was later airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition. The younger woman was charged with wound person intend cause grievous bodily harm. She was bail refused to appear in Dubbo Local Court on 18 May 2024.