newy.com.au – NSW Police have charged 993 people in a four-day statewide domestic violence operation, including a Hunter Valley man allegedly found hiding in a concealed hole inside a Singleton Heights home.
Operation Amarok XIII ran from Wednesday, May 13, to Saturday, May 16, targeting offenders with a history of domestic and family violence. Police said the intelligence-led operation was aimed at protecting victims, enforcing court orders and disrupting repeat offending across NSW.
In the Hunter, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District had been investigating an alleged breach of an apprehended domestic violence order since February. About 4.10pm on Friday, May 15, police attended a home on Wakehurst Crescent, Singleton Heights, where they allegedly found a 41-year-old man hiding in a man-made hole concealed by a large dresser.
He was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station, where he was charged with contravening a prohibition or restriction in an AVO, common assault, aggravated break and enter with intent knowing a person was there, destroying or damaging property, stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical harm, and knowingly contravening an AVO. He was refused bail and appeared before Local Bail Division 2 on Saturday, May 16.
Across NSW, police executed 299 arrest warrants and laid 2063 charges during the operation. Officers also carried out 1847 bail compliance checks and 14,318 ADVO compliance checks, identifying 391 alleged breaches.
Police said firearms and weapons were also seized during the operation, with officers conducting 142 firearms prohibition order searches. Those searches resulted in 94 firearms and 48 weapons being seized.
The Domestic and Family Violence Command-led operation involved officers from each region’s Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team, as well as specialist officers from State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad, Youth Command, State Crime Command’s Child Protection Register, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, and the Police Transport Command.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said Operation Amarok sent a clear message to domestic violence offenders.
“Police target the people who pose the greatest risk: repeat offenders, wanted offenders and those with outstanding warrants,” Minister Catley said.
“Domestic and family violence is a stain on our society. These offenders rely on fear and control, and Amarok is about turning that pressure back onto them.
“If you use violence, intimidation or coercive control, police will come for you.”
Domestic and Family Violence Corporate Spokesperson, Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan, said police were focused on identifying offenders, protecting victims and stopping violent behaviour before it escalated.
“This operation is about holding perpetrators to account,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said.
“Our focus is on removing violent offenders from homes and enforcing protection orders.
“This operation reinforces our ongoing commitment to tackling domestic and family violence year-round.
“Amarok may be a targeted operation, but our dedication to protecting victims and pursuing offenders occurs every day and never stops.”
Police said other significant arrests during the operation occurred across metropolitan Sydney, the Illawarra and western NSW, with charges including stalking and intimidation, AVO breaches, assault, choking offences, firearm offences and drug matters.
Reports of domestic and family-related crime or abuse can be made by contacting or attending a local police station. In an emergency, call Triple Zero. Anyone with information about domestic and family-related violence is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online, with information treated in strict confidence. Victims can also contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
