The Police Transport and Public Safety Command have urged commuters to report acts of violence across the public transport network after three youths, allegedly armed, were arrested in Sydney’s west.
Just before 5pm on Friday 12 June 2020, a male, allegedly armed with a machete, threatened commuters at Rooty Hill Railway Station before he was confronted by four males, who were armed with knives and a hammer.
Officers from Police Transport Command were notified and commenced an investigation.
Following inquiries, two boys – aged 16, and 17 – were arrested in South Wentworthville and Ryde respectively on Thursday (18 June 2020).
The 16-year-old boy was charged with two counts of affray and was granted strict conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on Friday 31 July 2020.
The 17-year-old boy was charged with two counts of affray and armed with intent to commit indictable offence. He was refused bail and is due to next appear before a children’s court on Wednesday 5 August 2020.
Following further inquiries, a third boy, aged 17, was arrested in Minchinbury, and charged with affray and armed with intent to commit indictable offence on Friday (19 June 2020).
He was granted strict conditional bail and appeared before a children’s court on Monday (22 June 2020), where he was formally granted bail to next appear before a children’s court on Monday 27 July 2020.
Investigations into the incident are continuing and further arrests are expected.
Police Transport Command’s Detective Superintendent Brad Monk said it was alarming to see weapons produced while commuters were just trying to go about their business.
“While, thankfully, no one was injured in this incident, the community doesn’t tolerate this kind of brazen behaviour and neither do we,” Det Supt Monk said.
“We regularly conduct patrols, but the community really is our eyes and ears – if you see something suspicious, call police immediately.
“We want to be there to prevent these incidents and take the appropriate action before any harm can happen to members of the public.”
Det Supt Monk said in response to reports of robberies, assault and other anti-social behaviour across the transport network, officers from Police Transport Command conducted the first stage of Operation Invertice between Thursday (18 June 2020) and Saturday (20 June 2020).
The high-visibility operation – which included officers from the North West Metropolitan Region, the Youth Command, the Dog and Mounted Command, and the Aviation Support Branch – saw officers proactively patrolling the St Marys, Mt Druitt, Rooty Hill, Doonside and Blacktown railway stations.
During the operation, 31 people were arrested for 46 offences, including assault, domestic violence, drug and weapons offences, and 72 infringement notices were issued.
Several prohibited drugs and weapons were also seized to undergo forensic examination.
Incidents of note during the operation include:
- A 34-year-old Tregear man was arrested at Dawson Mall, near Mt Druitt Railway Station, just before 7.30pm on Saturday (20 June 2020), following an alleged altercation. The man allegedly tried to elbow one person and continued to yell and act aggressively. Police attended and attempted to arrest the man; however, he allegedly resisted and attempted to assault police. The man was taken to Mt Druitt Police Station, where he was charged with affray, assault officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty, and destroy or damage property. The Tregear man was refused bail and appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday (21 June 2020), where he was formally refused bail to appear before Mt Druitt Local Court today (Wednesday 24 June 2020).
- About 3.10pm on Thursday (18 June 2020), officers were patrolling near Blacktown Railway Station, when they were approached by a 34-year-old man. After speaking with him, he allegedly pushed a male constable and was arrested. He was taken to Blacktown Police Station, where he was charged with assault officer in execution of duty, and resist officer in execution of duty. The Wentworth Falls man was refused bail and appeared at Blacktown Local Court on Friday (19 June 2020), where he was formally granted conditional bail to appear before the same court on Thursday 30 July 2020.
- Just before 4.30pm on Friday (19 June 2020), police will allege in court that a man approached two 13-year-old girls and made threatening and sexually inappropriate remarks at Toongabbie Railway Station. As the girls ran away, the man allegedly chased them before committing an act of indecency. Officers from Police Transport Command were notified and commenced an investigation. Following inquiries, a 36-year-old man was arrested at a home in Marayong about 9pm the same day. He was taken to Riverstone Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of carry out sexual act with child under 16 years, two counts of stalk/intimidate with intent to cause fear of physical harm, enter running lines and possess prohibited drug. He was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday (21 June 2020), where he was formally refused bail to appear before Blacktown Local Court on Monday (22 June 2020).
Further patrols under Operation Invertice will be conducted from tomorrow (Thursday 25 June) across railway stations in Western Sydney.
Anyone with information about anti-social behaviour across the public transport network is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
