More than 600 people have been arrested and in excess of 1000 charges laid in a high-intensity police operation targeting repeat domestic violence offenders across NSW.
About half of those arrested during the four-day operation last week are considered among NSW’s most dangerous domestic violence offenders and a quarter had outstanding warrants for violent offences, police said.
Those charged include a 33-year-old man police called a “high-risk-target” who was found hiding in a cupboard at a southwest Sydney home.
The man was taken from the Busby residence and charged with breaching an apprehended domestic violence order. He will face Liverpool Local Court on May 3.
Another high-risk offender who had been sought by police since last month was caught after he ran and jumped over fences to flee apprehension in northeast NSW.
The man, 42, is now behind bars until July on a number of charges including domestic violence-related intentional choking, stalking and common assault.
During the operation, police seized 23 firearms and 45 weapons, including spear guns and gel blasters.
Some 326 applications for apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) applications were also taken out on behalf of victims, and 460 outstanding ADVOs were served, while police checked in on the compliance of close to 5000 existing orders.
“Let’s be clear, domestic violence is a crime. Our operation was targeting particularly those criminals who were repeat offenders,” NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said on Wednesday.
“Arresting 644 people is protecting those victims from future violence.”
The force was congratulated on a successful operation by Police Minister Yasmin Catley.
“If you are a perpetrator of domestic violence, you can expect a knock on the door,” the Swansea MP said.
Talks were ongoing between police and government about how to better tackle domestic violence, including in the regions, where victims often suffered living long distances from police, Ms Catley said.
“As a regional MP, I think the regional police force are very lucky to have me as their police minister because I know acutely the tyranny of distance.”
– AAP
