NSW police arrest 30 people during public transport operation – Operation Merge
June 25, 2012
A joint-operation targeting crime and anti-social behaviour on NSW’s public transport system has resulted in the arrest of 30 people.
Operation Merge, a high-visibility joint agency operation, was conducted between 2pm and 2am on Thursday June 21 and Friday June 22.
The operation, which concentrated on public transport in Sydney’s south and south-west, included officers from commuter crime units within the regions and the dog squad.
In addition, Railcorp transit officers and State Transit Authority officers were deployed throughout the transport network.
The areas covered during the operation included Bankstown, Campsie, Hurstville, Miranda, Sutherland and Wollongong.
Police and drug detection dogs conducted 160 person searches and identified 13 people allegedly in possession of illicit drugs
Officers arrested 30 people and issued a total of 282 infringement notices for rail, traffic and parking-related offences.
In one incident, a 30-year-old woman was charged after fleeing officers who attempted to stop her car after she allegedly failed to stop at a red light at Hurstville.
Officers initially stopped the car, however the woman gave officers false details before managing to drive away from them. A male officer suffered minor injuries while trying to stop her.
Following inquiries, police arrested the 30-year-old at a hotel in Bankstown on Friday afternoon June 22.
She was taken to Bankstown Police Station where she was subsequently charged with assaulting police, driving a vehicle without consent and using a weapon to avoid apprehension.
She was refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday June 23.
Operation Merge Commander Superintendent Bernie Ryan says the operation was successful and others are planned.
“We really hope this type of operation will act as a deterrent to anyone thinking of misbehaving or conducting criminal activities on public transport,” he says.
“Everyone who uses public transport has a right to travel safely and without fear of becoming a victim of crime or anti-social behaviour.”