Hundreds of high-risk DV offenders charged in four-day police blitz

The Daily Telegraph joined heavily-armed tactical response teams as they conducted a four-day statewide blitz, which saw the arrests of hundreds high risk domestic violence offenders. See the pictures and search our interactive map.

A man who allegedly threw his phone at his 62-year-old partner before police raided his Port Macquarie apartment is one of hundreds of alleged domestic violence offenders arrested by police in a four-day blitz against some of the state’s most high risk domestic violence offenders.

Garry Davis was marched out of his apartment on Wednesday after police were called to the property, flipping the bird to media and police. The 55-year-old was later charged with assault, damaging property and stalking and intimidation.

More than 550 of the state’s most high risk alleged domestic violence offenders have been arrested in a four day police operation across NSW since Wednesday. Nearly 230 of those arrested were wanted by police for serious domestic violence offences.

The sixth Operation Amarok saw officers from all police area commands and districts carry out a meticulously planned assault on some of the worst alleged domestic violence offenders.

Over the four days police laid 1070 charges, conducted over 1277 bail compliance checks and identified 144 individuals who were breaching their bail conditions statewide. Firearms and weapons were found in the possession of alleged domestic violence perpetrators across the state, with 38 guns and 43 other weapons such as knives seized.

Garry Davis was marched out of his apartment on Wednesday after police were called to the property, flipping the bird to media and police. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

The Daily Telegraph accompanied the specialist Domestic Violence High-Risk offender unit as they swept through the Mid North Coast towns of Port Macquarie and Kempsey.

In a convoy of nearly a dozen vehicles, police swept the homes of alleged perpetrators, their families and victims in search of high risk offenders with outstanding warrants.

The specialist units act on information from a team of experts who profile the most serious offenders, using analytics to crossmatch both incident response and victim-survivor information with contemporary offending patterns from more than 100,000 incidents NSW Police respond to each year. In many instances they get information as detailed as where a perpetrator might usually park his vehicle or what time of day they might go to the pub.

In a massive blitz, police went door to door conducting compliance checks on alleged perpetrators out on bail or with current AVOs. One Port Macquarie street had multiple stops, with police doing three checks within a span of 100 metres.

Police from Operation Amarok High-Risk Domestic Violence team react after noticing a heated argument unfolding next door to an address where they were hoping to arrest a different high risk offender in West Kempsey. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Young offenders were also caught up in the raids, with one 15-year-old Kempsey boy served an AVO, preventing him from contacting another young girl with whom he had a relationship.

In another incident on the same day in the nearby town of Kempsey, a man with a replica gun was arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot his housemate.

Multiple women were also arrested in the raids, although they were not regarded as high risk offenders.

While police searched a West Kempsey home for a male high risk offender, screaming could be heard in a nearby home. When police entered the home, which was not a scheduled stop for the high-risk DV unit, they discovered a separate domestic incident between two women in the shower. Tamara Davis, 32, was arrested and charged with common assault and contravening an AVO between her and the other woman.

Police surround an address where they were hoping to arrest a high risk offender in West Kempsey. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Despite the multiple arrests on the first day of Operation Amarok, none of the targeted high risk individuals with outstanding warrants on the Mid North Coast were able to be found.

Police hunting down alleged DV offenders in the regional towns said they face significant obstacles, with families and even victims often hiding perpetrators from police.

While on the North Coast, The Daily Telegraph saw multiple social media posts warning of a police operation in town and giving locations of where the officers were targeting and warning perpetrators to lay low. Police also received intelligence that some locals were sending snap chats of the unmarked police vehicle registrations so locals could identify them.

A police k9 unit outside a home where police arrested a woman on an AVO breach after noticing a heated argument unfold in West Kempsey. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Superintendent Danielle Emerton, commander of the state’s Domestic Violence Registry said part of the success of Operation Amarok was an advanced network of intelligence as to where the most dangerous DV offenders whether they were likely to reoffend.

“It’s a co-ordinated approach that starts with our intelligence that’s collected from around the state and then the police are deployed to where we believe our most dangerous offenders are,” she said.

Tamara Davis, 32, was arrested and charged with common assault and contravening an AVO between her and another woman. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Superintendent Emerton said there were often challenges in fighting domestic violence as many victims still don’t report incidents due to a fear of consequences to themselves or their family.

“There can be a fear of retribution from the perpetrator or associates, a distrust or fear of police and the criminal justice system or financial concerns as to where they might live,” she said.

Four-day blitz across NSW

Other arrests in the four-day blitz took place across several suburbs including Lurnea, Corrimal, Lilyfield and a man was also extradited from Queensland.

In Lurnea, police were called to a home on Facey Crescent where they allege a 16-year-old girl assaulted two people.

Hundreds were arrested in the statewide blitz. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

She was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries.

Upon her release, she was taken 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).

Police searching a property in Kempsey. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

She was granted conditional bail to appear before Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday.

Last Friday police were conducting proactive duties and attended a home on The Ave at Corrimal.

A Firearms Prohibition Order and a Weapons Prohibition Order were served on the occupants before police searched the home.

During the search police located and seized allegedly stolen number plates, prohibited drugs and a knife.

The K9 were called during the statewide blitz. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

A 43-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Wollongong Police Station where she was charged with multiple offences.

Police were simultaneously called to a home on White St in Lilyfield.

Officers 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 May 29.

A man will also be extradited to Sydney today after being arrested in Queensland over an alleged domestic violence-related assault.

More than 500 people were arrested statewide. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Earlier this month, a woman was allegedly assaulted several times at a home in Roselands.

She was rushed to hospital with fractured ribs, facial injuries, bruised kidney, as well as bruises to her torso and legs.

Following inquiries, Queensland Police arrested a 31-year-old man on May 17 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.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the latest raid for Operation Amarok sent 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,” she said.

“Anyone who commits this heinous crime can expect a knock at their door.”

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Originally published as Hundreds of high-risk DV offenders charged in four-day police blitz