Police launch Operation Waratah 2 to target Sydney's worst public transport offenders

Friday, 29 November 2024 05:16:31 AM

Police have commenced Operation Waratah 2 as they continue to target Sydney’s worst public transport offenders involved in assaults and sexual touching incidents.

Officers attached Police Transport Command commenced Operation Waratah 2 in November 2024 following the success of Operation Waratah earlier this year.

Operation Waratah 2 will be focused on targeting offenders engaging in violent activity on Sydney’s transport network including trains, buses, ferries and the new Sydney Metro.

These offences include assaulting children, commuters and staff members and sexual touching incidents.

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty APM, Commander of Police Transport and Public Safety Command, said many offenders still haven’t got the message that this behaviour won’t be tolerated.

“Over 200 alleged offenders were arrested during the first Operation Waratah earlier this year marking a significant drop in violent acts on our network.

“However, despite these arrests there are still members of the public who think they can assault children, commuters and staff and avoid consequences,” Assistant Commissioner Hegarty said.

“Police and NSW Transport have access to over 17,000 cameras and a wide range of intel, so my message to those offenders who remain outstanding is simple. Police will identity you and will hold you accountable.

Following the commencement of Operation Waratah 2 police have already made several arrests including the following incidents:

• On Tuesday 4 June 2204, police were called to Strathfield Railway Station, following reports of an assault. Officers arrived and were told two unknown people had allegedly assaulted a commuter before dragging him towards the platform edge and leaving. Following inquiries, police arrested a 44-year-old woman and 46-year-old man in Dundas Valley on Monday 25 November 2024. They were both taken to Gladesville Police Station where they were both charged with affray. They were both granted strict conditional bail to appear before Burwood Local Court on Monday 16 December 2024.

• On Monday 20 May 2024, police were called to Kingswood Railway Station, following reports of an affray. Officers arrived and were told an unknown woman had allegedly punched a woman in the face on a train while making threats towards her. Following inquiries, police arrested a 38-year-old woman at a home in Penrith, on Monday 25 November 2024. She was taken to Penrith Police Station where she was charged with affray, smoke in or on public passenger vehicle, train, public place, and travel or attempt travel without valid ticket. The woman was refused bail and appeared before Penrith Local Court the same day where she was granted conditional bail to appear before the same court on Thursday 16 January 2025.

As part of the operation police have released images of multiple people who may be able to assist with investigations into 15 violent and sexual incidents.

Incidents under investigation by Operation Waratah 2 include:

Incident A: About 5.30pm Thursday 1 August 2024, police were called to Strathfield Railway Station, following reports of a sexual touching incident. Officers arrived and were told an unknown man had allegedly sexually touched himself in front of a 20-year-old woman multiple times while on a train. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident B: About 1pm Tuesday 8 October 2024, police were called to Leura Railway Station, following reports school children had been assaulted. Officers arrived and were told an unknown man had allegedly thrown a 12-year-old boy against a brick wall before assaulting four other young boys and leaving the station. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident C: About 9.45pm Saturday 28 September 2024, police were called to Lidcombe Railway Station, following reports of a sexual touching incident. Officers were told an unknown man had allegedly sexually touched himself multiple times in front of a woman while on a train at Flemington Railway Station before leaving the train. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident D: About 11am Monday 3 June 2024, police were called to Blacktown Railway Station, following reports of an assault. Officers arrived and were told a 14-year-old boy had allegedly been punched in the face by an unknown man before he left the station. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident E: About 8.20pm Sunday 2 June 2024, police were called to Quakers Hill Railway Station, following reports of an assault. Officers arrived and were told an unknown man had allegedly pushed a 53-year-old man out of the train resulting in the man inuring his head. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident F: About 3.30pm Tuesday 29 October 2024, police were called to Cabramatta Railway Station, following reports of a child sexual touching incident. Officers arrived and were told a 14-year-old boy had allegedly been sexually touched by an unknown man while on a train before the man left the train. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident G: About 5.50pm Tuesday 24 September 2024, police were called to Fairfield Railway Station, following reports of an assault. Officers arrived and were told that an unknown woman had allegedly punched a 26-year-old woman in the back of the head before making threatening comments and leaving the train. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a woman who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident H: About 7.50am Tuesday 8 October 2024, police were called to Fairfield Railway Station, following reports of an assault. Officers arrived and were told an unknown man had allegedly assaulted an NSW Transport worker on a train between Cabramatta and Canley Vale Railway Station. During the alleged assault the man also allegedly threatened to kill the worker before leaving the train. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident I: About 4.20pm Thursday 24 October 2024, police were called to Revesby Railway Station, following reports of an assault. Officers arrived and were told an unknown man had allegedly punched a 64-year-old man in the head multiple times while he was attempting to put his walking frame in a car. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident J: About 6pm Wednesday 14 August 2024, police were called to Waratah Street, Punchbowl, following reports a bus driver was assaulted. Officers arrived and were told a bus driver was allegedly assaulted by two unknown men after he asked them to stop drinking alcohol on the bus. During the alleged assault the two men punched the driver in the head, threw alcohol on him and threatened to stab him before leaving. As inquiries continue police have released an image of two men who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

About K: About 8.30pm Thursday 19 September 2024, police were called to a university in Macquarie Park, following reports of an assault. Officers arrived and were told an unknown man had allegedly spat on a 13- and 12-year-old girl multiple times and threw garbage at them while on a bus. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident L: About 3.10pm Sunday 29 September 2024, police were called to a bus depot in Ryde, following reports of an assault. Officers arrived and were told an unknown man and woman had entered a bus where they allegedly threw food and made threats towards children. During the incident, the man also allegedly pointed a homemade flamethrower towards a mother and her child and created a burst of flame. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man and woman who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident M: About 3.30pm Monday 19 August 2024, police were called to a shopping centre in Frenchs Forest, following reports of a sexual incident. Officers arrived and were told an unknown man had sexually touched himself multiple times and made sexual comments to a 15-year-old girl. While sexually touching himself the man followed the girl between multiple buses before she was able to flee from the man. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Incident N: About 4am Monday 21 October 2024, police were called to Tuggerah Railway Station, following reports of a sexual touching incident. Officers arrived and were told an unknown man had sexually touched a 51-year-old woman using a gap between the seats while on a train. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

Image O: About 4pm Monday 12 August 2024, police were called to the Newcastle rail interchange, following reports of a sexual incident. Officers arrived and were told an unknown man had sexually touched himself in front of a 15-year-old girl while on the Newcastle Light Rail. As inquiries continue police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist police in their investigation.

As investigations continue, police are urging anyone with information on the above incidents to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Anyone with information that may assist investigators 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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