Police crackdown on the state’s most dangerous domestic violence offenders

A police operation targeting NSW’s most dangerous domestic violence offenders netted organised crime figures, saw suspects pulled from beds in their jocks amid 644 arrests.

NSW police raided everyone from organised crime figures to “average Joes” they pulled from beds in their jocks as part of a statewide operation targeting some of the state’s most dangerous domestic violence offenders.

Deadly weapons including spearguns, firearms, knives and gel blasters — and even a broken vase — were among the items seized in last week’s Operation Amarok II raids.

Officers arrested 644 people in the statewide operation, with more than 1100 charges laid against the perpetrators.

Some of the most disturbing findings emerged from regional towns in NSW.

Just before 10am on Thursday, police conducted an FPO search at Broken Hill home where they found a .22 Magnum firearm, a bolt from another firearm and ammunition of various calibres.

Officers arrested 644 people in the statewide Amarok operation with a total of 1100 charges laid against the perpetrators.

A 35-year-old man was subsequently charged with two counts of possess unauthorised firearm, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority and breach of bail.

Further east, at Griffith, officers arrested three men after executing an FPO/WPO search at a property.

Firearms and other prohibited weapons were seized throughout the operation. Picture: NSW Police

Police located and seized a .22 calibre pump action rifle, a replica rifle (gel blaster), prohibited drugs, cash and paraphernalia consistent with drug supply.

The three men were charged with multiple offences which included AVO breaches and illegal firearm possession.

In Sydney’s east, officers arrested a 16-year-old boy after he fled from them in a car pursuit at Rose Bay.

Checks revealed he was wanted for a domestic violence offence, and after a quick search of the area, police located a speargun in the vehicle.

A number of prohibited weapons were seized.

A gun seized in the raids.

Police will allege that he threatened his mother with the spear gun. He was charged with armed with intent commit indictable offence, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic) and take and drive conveyance without consent of owner.

More than 600 people were arrested in the a crackdown on domestic violence offenders. Picture: NSW Police

“Let’s be clear, domestic violence is a crime. Our operation was targeting particularly those criminals who were repeat offenders,” NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said on Wednesday.

“Arresting 644 people is protecting those victims from future violence.”

Police make an arrest during Operation Amarok. Picture: NSW Police

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said domestic and family-related violence is one of the most challenging community issues of our generation.

“We know that domestic violence is a whole community problem, and we must tackle that in any way that we can,” she said.

“And the NSW police through its action with Amarok is doing just that.”