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10 charged during three-day blitz - Operation Soteria

Sunday, 13 April 2025 05:01:16 PM

Ten people have been charged during a three-day blitz under Operation Soteria, which was established to target youth crime in the western and northern regional areas of the state.

From Thursday 10 April 2025 and Saturday 12 April 2025, officers attached to Central West Police District, as well as Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Youth Command, Aviation Command and Western Region Operational Support Group, were deployed to the state’s Central West region for the three-day operation.

During the operation, 10 people were charged with a total of 32 offences.

Incidents of note:

  • About 10am on Saturday 12 April 2025, police were called to Leifermann Street, Condobolin, following reports a man had discharged a firearm into the air from inside a vehicle. Following inquiries, about 3.30pm on Saturday 12 April 2025, police attended an address on Kookaburra Street, Parkes, where they arrested a 20-year-old man. He was taken to Parkes Police Station, where he was charged with five counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal), two counts of possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, fire firearm in or near public place, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and possess prohibited drug. He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Sunday 13 April 2025).

  • On Friday 11 April 2025, police attended an address in Orange and arrested an 18-year-old woman who was wanted on two outstanding warrants. She was taken to Orange Police Station, where she was charged with the two warrants. She faced a children’s court on Saturday 12 April 2025, where she was refused bail to appear before a children’s court on Tuesday 15 April 2025.

  • About 10.30pm on Friday 11 April 2025, police stopped a 15-year-old boy who was riding a push bike on Bletchington Street, Orange. The boy was subsequently searched, and police allegedly located and seized a knife. The boy was arrested and was taken to Orange Police Station, where he was charged with custody of knife in public place. He was granted conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on 19 May 2025.

Investigations under Operation Soteria are ongoing.