Almost 600 people, including some of the state’s most dangerous domestic violence offenders, have been charged with serious offences during a four-day high-impact operation across NSW.
Operation Amarok III, an intelligence-based policing strategy led by each region’s Domestic Violence High-Risk Offender Teams (DVHROT), ran from Wednesday (12 July 2023) to yesterday (Saturday 15 July 2023) and involved officers from all police area commands and police districts in NSW, as well as various proactive and specialist units.
During the operation, 592 people were arrested, and in addition to domestic violence-related offences, various other serious offences were detected, including prohibited firearm and weapon possession, drug possession and supply, with a total of 1107 charges laid.
Of those arrested, 139 were identified amongst NSW’s most dangerous domestic violence offenders and 103 had outstanding warrants for violent offences.
Over the four days, police engaged with high-risk domestic violence offenders on 1169 occasions, made 315 applications for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs), served 500 outstanding ADVOs, completed 4882 ADVO compliance checks and 1465 bail compliance checks.
Officers also conducted 116 Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPOs) searches at properties linked to those who are subject to FPOs.
In total, police seized 22 firearms and 40 prohibited weapons, as well as various types of illicit drugs located with 89 detections.
The Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism, Yasmin Catley, said with more than 139,000 calls for police assistance and over 33,000 actual domestic-related assaults every year, the issue of domestic and family violence cannot be understated.
“These figures show this is an epidemic. We know domestic and family violence is one of the most underreported crime types,” Ms Catley said.
“The police have my full support on this. I back the government agencies working together to stamp out this type of behaviour. Operation Amarok sends a strong message to offenders that they’re in the sights of police.
“You’ve been warned. Your predatory behaviour will be policed to your door.”
NSW Police Corporate Sponsor for Domestic and Family Violence, Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon, said with more than half the state’s murders being domestic violence-related, Operation Amarok is a key strategy in preventing serious harm to victims.
“In order to ensure the safety of actual and potential victims of domestic and family violence, Operation Amarok is a deliberate strategy targeting the most dangerous offenders,” Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said.
“While any form of domestic and family violence is unacceptable, those offenders who pose the greatest threat to victims, those who continue to offend, and those who commit serious criminal offences are firmly in our sights.
“This type of offending is violent, confronting, and targeted.
“Amarok elevates our focus on those offenders who often display the dangerousness and violence of organised crime figures and the fixation of terrorists to ensure that we stop their offending behaviour and protect victims.”
Information about the NSW Police Force response to domestic and family violence, can be found online: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/crime/domestic_and_family_violence.
Victims of domestic and family violence can find information about support services by contacting 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visiting: https://www.1800respect.org.au.
Reports of domestic and family-related crime or abuse can be made by contacting or attending your local police station. In an emergency, contact Triple Zero (000).
Anyone with information relating to domestic and family-related violence is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
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