Police seized a slingshot from a Karabar home as part of a blitz targeting violence and weapons offences. Photo: NSW Police.
Some of NSW’s most dangerous domestic violence offenders are among almost 600 people charged with serious offences during a four-day blitz across the state.
Each police district’s Domestic Violence High-Risk Offender Teams took part in the recent Operation Amarok III action from Wednesday (12 July) to Saturday (15 July), targeting perpetrators of family violence.
While the operation was aimed at domestic violence-related offenders, various other serious offences were also detected, including prohibited firearm and weapon possession, and drug possession and supply.
Overall, 592 people were arrested across the state with a total of 1107 charges laid.
As part of the operation, Monaro Region Enforcement Squad officers went to a Karabar home on Wednesday to conduct a Firearm Prohibition Orders (FPO) and Weapon Prohibition Orders (WPO) search.
When no one came to the door, officers forced entry where they located the subject of the FPO inside the home, along with a woman and child who were known to him.
A commercially-manufactured slingshot, testosterone, cannabis and GHB were seized during the search.
The 41-year-old man was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drug offences, and is set to appear at Queanbeyan Local Court on 14 August.
Inquiries into the possession of the slingshot are ongoing.
Across the state, police seized 22 firearms and 40 prohibited weapons as part of the operation.
Over the four-day operation, NSW Police engaged with high-risk domestic violence offenders 1169 times, made 315 applications for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs), served 500 outstanding ADVOs, completed 4882 ADVO compliance checks and 1465 bail compliance checks.
Of those arrested, 139 people were identified as some of the state’s most dangerous domestic violence offenders, and 103 people had outstanding warrants for violent offences.
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 was a key strategy in preventing serious harm from a form of offending that was “violent, confronting and targeted”.
“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,” he 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.
“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.”
More than 139,000 calls for police assistance and more than 33,000 domestic-related assaults occur in NSW every year.
Police and Counter Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley said this meant the issue of family violence could not be understated.
“These figures show this is an epidemic [and] we know domestic and family violence is one of the most underreported crime types,” she said.
“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.”
If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) to find information about support services.
Reports of domestic and family-related crime or abuse can be made by calling or visiting your local police station.
In an emergency, contact Triple Zero (000).
Anyone with information about domestic and family-related violence can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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