Hundreds arrested in major police crackdown on violence on Sydney trains

The result of blanketing Sydney’s train network with police officers was 36 knives being seized and 264 people being arrested.

A weekend operation to catch criminals on Sydney’s trains has led to the discovery of dozens of machetes and knives, a bat with nails and two kilograms of the drug “ice”.

NSW Police launched Operation Waratah 2 last weekend off the back of releasing the faces of 12 individuals they wanted to speak to over a variety of crimes, ranging from sexual touching to vicious assaults on disabled pensioners.

The resulting blanketing of the train network with officers led to 36 knives being seized and 264 people being arrested, including one man who allegedly tried to scale a tree to avoid police - only to find himself surrounded by officers, police dogs and PolAir helicopter, at which point he surrendered.

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty said the operation was “intelligence” led, ensuring that it focused on those largely responsible for the violence on the city’s trains.

NSW Police have arrested 264 people as part of a major operation cracking down on crime on the train and bus network. Picture: NSW Police

Police carry out a search on a man. Picture: NSW Police

“It is all about making sure people are safe on the network,” Asst Comm Hegarty said.

“I know there’s been a bit of a perception recently that the police aren’t out there, but this is just a really good indication of how many police are out there.

“We have seen over recent times that these operations do make a major contribution to reducing crime on the network.”

On top of searching 524 people on trains and station platforms, officers also carried out search warrants and Firearm Prohibition Orders at homes across Sydney.

Not only did Operation Waratah 2 see officers hit the streets and stations, but officers were also put inside the Railway Operations Centre (ROC) at Alexandria, joining Sydney Trains’ specialist security teams in monitoring 13,000 CCTV cameras in real time around the clock.

Operation Waratah 2 also saw search warrants carried out at the homes of train offenders. Picture: NSW Police

“I think from the operation, you saw that it wasn’t just that normal approach on the railway line,” Asst Comm Hegarty said.

“We use a lot of intelligence, we identify people who are wanted for weapons offences, we target them at their house and their workplace.

“So if you think you’re safe and comfortable and anonymous on these (transport) networks, you’re absolutely not, and if you commit any offences, we will track you down.”