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Ten charged during Operation Surge - Richmond Police District

Friday, 17 January 2025 04:59:05 PM

Police have conducted a four-day high-visibility operation focused on preventing and disrupting crime in the state’s north this week.

Between Monday 13 and Thursday 16 January 2025, officers attached to Richmond Police District – assisted by Northern Region Operations teams, Highway Patrol, the Dog Unit, Police Rescue and PolAir – saturated the Richmond Police District under Operation Surge to target and reduce crime.

As a result of the operation, police arrested and charged 10 people with a combined 53 offences.

Police also conducted 28 AVO compliance checks, and executed four search warrants, and four firearms prohibition order compliance checks.

Incidents of note include:

  • About 8.30am on Monday 13 January 2025, officers from the North Coast DV High Risk Offenders Team and Ballina Child Abuse Squad attended a hotel in Lismore following an extensive investigation into alleged sexual assault and drug supply offences. A 46-year-old man was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station where he was charged with five counts of supply prohibited drug (small quantity to small child by adult), three counts of aggravated sexual assault - victim under the age of 16 years, three counts of have sexual intercourse with child, intentionally sexually touch child, and procure child for unlawful sexual activity. He appeared before Lismore Local Court on Monday 13 January 2025, and was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Wednesday 12 March 2025.

  • About 2pm on Monday 13 January 2025, officers attended a home on Boronia Avenue, Casino, to conduct a Firearms Prohibition Order search and to make inquiries as part of an ongoing investigation into stolen vehicles. A 31-year-old man was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station where he was charge with drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, and drive motor vehicle during disqualification period. He was refused bail to appear before Lismore Local Court on Tuesday 14 January 2025, where he was formally refused bail to appear before Tweed Heads Local Court on Monday 3 March 2025.

  • About 8.40am on Tuesday 14 January 2025, Lismore Detectives - assisted by the AFP Dog Unit - executed a search warrant at a home in Girards Hill in relation to an investigation into child abuse material. Several electronic devices were seized and will undergo forensic examination. An amount of cannabis and heroin was also located and seized. A 53-year-old man was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station where he was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug, use carriage service to access child abuse material, possess child abuse material, and self-administer/attempt self-administer prohibited drug. He was refused bail to appear before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday 15 January 2025, where he was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday 12 March 2025.

  • About 9.40am on Tuesday 14 January 2025, police attended a home on Oak Avenue, Casino, where they arrested a 20-year-old man following an investigation into alleged break and enter, drug and traffic offences. He was taken to Casino Police Station where he was charged with 26 offences. He appeared before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday 15 January 2025, and was formally refused bail to appear before Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday 11 March 2025.

  • About 11.40pm on Wednesday 15 January 2025, police attended a home in Goonellabah as part of an investigation into property and traffic offences. Two males - aged 14 and 19 - were arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station. The younger boy was charged with take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, and breach of bail. He was refused bail to appear before a children's court yesterday (Thursday 16 January 2025), where he was granted conditional bail to appear before the same court on Friday 7 February 2025. The older boy was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, unlicensed for class, and breach of bail. He was refused bail to appear before Lismore Local Court yesterday (Thursday 16 January 2025), where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Wednesday 26 March 2025.

Further surge operations are expected across the Northern Region.