Police have charged 11 people during a three-day high-visibility operation focused on preventing and disrupting crime in the state’s north-east.
Between Wednesday 9 September 2026 and Friday 11 September 2026, officers attached to Oxley Police District – assisted by Western Region Operations Support Group, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and Youth Command – were deployed to the Tamworth area under Operation Soteria to target and reduce crime.
As a result of the operation, police arrested and charged 11 people and a further nine people were issued with Court Attendance Notices for various offences.
Officers conducted 19 person searches and move-on directions, 31 bail compliance and apprehended domestic violence order checks, two firearm prohibition order searches and three knives were seized.
Over the three days, officers attached to Youth Command conducted three school visits where they spoke to more than 160 school students. Officers also spoke with more than 1200 young people during community engagements.
Youth Command in conjunction with the Clontarf Foundation, an Aboriginal-based group at Tamworth High School, spoke to young people interested in the recruitment process to become a police officer.
Incidents of note include:
About 2:45pm on Wednesday 9 September 2026, police attended a sports field in Gipps Street, West Tamworth, following reports of a domestic incident and arrested a 34-year-old man, who was taken to Tamworth Police Station and charged with:
- Contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO – Personal (four counts)
- Stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm
- Custody of knife in public place
He was refused bail to appear before the Tamworth Local Court on Tuesday 15 September 2026.
About 8am on Thursday 10 September 2026, police attended a house in Reginald Drive, Kootingal, following reports of a domestic incident and arrested a 21-year-old man who was charged with 13 offences including:
- Common assault (DV) (nine counts)
- Intentionally choke etc person with recklessness (three counts)
- Stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm
He was granted conditional bail to appear before Tamworth Local Court on Tuesday 29 September 2026.
About 3:30pm on Friday 11 September 2026, police located a 35-year-old man in Lockheed Street, Taminda, following reports of a domestic incident. He was arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station where he was charged with:
- Contravene prohibition / restriction in Domestic AVO
- Breach of bail.
He is bail refused to appear before the Bail Division Court 5, today, Saturday 12 September 2026.
