Fact of life: Sydney is always on the brink or midst of a gangland war

Analysis: Police are doing their best to prevent the outbreak of a gang war - it’s a pity the law often does not appear to back them up, writes Daily Telegraph Crime Editor Mark Morri.

Crime scene of a shooting at Church St, Granville on Sunday. Picture: Rohan Kelly

It’s great to see NSW Police throwing everything they can to prevent more bloodshed on Sydney’s streets after an innocent young man was gunned down and a carload of men were ambushed on a busy road within the space of a week.

Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson announced there would be more than 150 cops concentrating on suppressing any future shootings and also arresting those responsible, with it now a fact of life that Sydney is always on the brink of, or in the middle of, a gangland war.

While police are doing their best to stop it, it’s a pity the law often does not appear to be back them up.

When the dust had settled after Sunday afternoon’s daylight shooting ambush on Church St, on the border of Granville and Parramatta, police found a firearm in the car that had been shot up.

They promptly charged the two unharmed passengers — Samimjan Azari, 26, and Levi Vitukawalu, 28 — both of whom have criminal records later tendered in court, with possessing the gun.

Crime scene of Sunday’s shooting at Church St Granville under the M4 overpass. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Police strenuously opposed bail for the pair when they faced Parramatta Local Court on Monday, claiming their release would endanger the public.

Prosecutor Kai Jiang told the court Azari had been the intended target of the failed hit and had a “senior role‘’ in the Alamadinne crime network.

Crime scene of a shooting at Church St Granville under the M4 overpass. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“The streets will not be safe,” Sgt Jiang told the court, describing Sunday’s incident as the third shooting at the epicentre of a “tit for tat feud” between organised crime networks.

It was also pointed out that Azaria was subject to a firearm prohibition order and on bail for an alleged armed hold-up.

His lawyer argued the case was weak one and said his client denied the charges.

The decision to grant bail frustrated and angered police who have seen it all before.

“Time and time again we see where people we believe are a threat to the community are granted bail at the first instance, not even giving us a chance to strengthen our case,” a senior police officer said.

“We see it from juvenile offenders which is a revolving door all the way through to people who are accused of more serious crime.”

Originally published as Fact of life: Sydney is always on the brink or midst of a gangland war