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Police extend railway crime blitz to Newcastle, Wollongong - Operation Vision IV
Date: 4/09/2008
A major policing operation targeting anti-social and criminal behaviour on the rail network will for the first time be extended to the Hunter and Illawarra regions this weekend.
The first phase of ‘Operation Vision IV’ will commence on Sunday (7 September) and run for three months. It will involve NSW Police Force’s Commuter Crime Unit and specialist resources, including the Dog Unit, Mounted Section and Highway Patrol, as well as RailCorp Transit Officers.
The main focus of the operation will be to reduce the incidence of assault, robbery, alcohol-related crime, anti-social behaviour and vandalism on trains by targeting known trouble-spots.
Police and RailCorp Transit Officers will conduct synchronised patrols of trains, railway stations, commuter car parks and transport interchanges, while they will also able to be rapidly deployed to identified hot-spots.
Previously, Operation Vision has only focussed on the Sydney metropolitan rail network; however, this time the operation will be expanded to include Newcastle, the Central Coast, Wollongong and surrounding areas.
“We’ve seen in the past just how successful this type of high-impact, high-visibility, concentrated and synchronised policing initiative can be,” Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens said. “Police and RailCorp’s Transit Officers have teamed-up well previously to bolster the safety and security of Sydney commuters, and I’m certain that cooperative approach will continue and again ensure this new operation - which will for the first time take in the Hunter, Central Coast and Illawarra regions - is a huge success.”
During ‘Operation Vision III’ - run between February and May this year - police and transit officers conducted 17,300 patrols of trains, buses and ferries and more than 11,825 patrols of railway stations, transport interchanges and commuter car parks.
This netted the best results yet for Operation Vision, with 566 people arrested and charged with 619 offences, including 164 people charged with drug possession. Police also seized 63 knives and other weapons.
Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli has warned people intent on acting up on the rail network will be arrested and dealt with.
“Anyone who engages in criminal or anti-social conduct be warned: police will be out in force and you will be caught and feel the full force of the law,” he said.
“Police will not tolerate people engaging in threatening or violent behaviour, acting in an anti-social manner, or damaging or destroying property.”
“Police take all crimes in and around the rail system very seriously.
“Operations such as this maintain our focus on reducing incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour in and around the major rail corridors,” Ass Commissioner Mennilli said.
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