newy.com.au – Woodberry is at the centre of one of the key arrests in a statewide domestic violence crackdown, with a 53-year-old man charged over the alleged sexual assault of a child in the Hunter as part of an operation that led to 17 people being charged.
NSW Police said the man was arrested about 9am on Thursday, 25 June, after officers from the North West Metropolitan Region Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team stopped a heavy vehicle on Huntingwood Road at Huntingwood.
Police had begun investigating this month after receiving a report that a child was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man known to her between 2022 and 2024 in Woodberry. The man was taken to Blacktown Police Station and charged with sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 years (DV), driving while disqualified and breach of bail. He was refused bail to face Blacktown Local Court on Friday.
The arrest formed part of Operation DFVC Surge 2026, an intelligence-led NSW Police operation targeting people wanted on outstanding warrants, alleged bail and apprehended domestic violence order breaches, and offenders considered at risk of serious violent offending.
Police said officers from every Police Area Command in the North West Metropolitan Region took part in Thursday’s operation, supported by specialist officers from the Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Team, Raptor Squad, State Operations and Emergency Management Command and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.
Across the operation, 17 people were arrested and charged with 24 offences. Police also carried out 418 apprehended domestic violence order compliance checks, identifying six breaches, and conducted 75 bail compliance checks. Three Firearms Prohibition Order searches were also carried out on offenders police said had significant domestic violence histories and alleged links to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Other arrests included an 18-year-old man taken into custody at a home on Don Mills Avenue, Hebersham, shortly before 1.30pm on Thursday after an investigation by Mt Druitt Police Area Command into an alleged assault. Police will allege he kicked a woman known to him while on a train. He was charged with common assault (DV) and granted conditional bail to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court on Tuesday, 14 July.
A 33-year-old woman was also arrested at a home on Gloucester Avenue, North Parramatta, about 9.40am on Thursday after police began investigating in February a report that intimate images of a man known to her had allegedly been sent to two people without his consent. Police further allege she verbally threatened another woman in June. She was charged with intentionally distributing an intimate image without consent (DV), using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend, and stalk/intimidation intend fear physical harm (domestic). She was granted conditional bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday, 7 July.
Police said Operation DFVC Surge 2026 had already been run in the Central and South West Metropolitan Regions earlier this year, resulting in 66 offenders being arrested and charged with a range of serious domestic violence offences. Those operations included 595 ADVO compliance checks, 266 bail compliance checks and Firearms Prohibition Orders being executed.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said domestic violence was a serious crime and alleged perpetrators should expect police action.
“This operation was about targeting the worst offenders – those wanted on warrants, breaching orders, ignoring bail and putting victims at risk,” Minister Catley said.
“There is no excuse, no hiding place and no tolerance for this violence.
“We will keep backing NSW Police to track offenders down, put them before the courts and protect victim-survivors.”
Capability, Performance and Youth Command Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein said police were committed to removing dangerous people from communities.
“This operation focuses on tightening the pressure on perpetrators who have a history of committing serious domestic violence offences,” Assistant Commissioner Weinstein said.
“This is another way police are stepping in early to prevent further harm to victims.
“This operation brings our intelligence and resources together in a flexible, coordinated way, allowing police to quickly identify emerging threats in domestic violence offending to respond before they escalate.
“By combining specialist units and frontline capability, we’re able to intervene earlier, target high-risk individuals and prevent further harm in our communities.”
Operation DFVC Surge is due to be conducted in the western region in July.
Police said reports of domestic and family-related crime or abuse could be made at a local police station, with Triple Zero to be called in an emergency. Anyone with information about domestic and family-related violence is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Victims of domestic and family violence can contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
