Police have conducted a high-visibility operation proactively engaging with the community in Wauchope to reduce and prevent crime over the weekend.
The three-day operation led by Mid North Coast Police District started on Thursday 7 March 2024 and concluded on Saturday 9 March 2024.
The operation was assisted by a range of NSW Police units including Northern Region RES and Domestic Violence High-Risk Offender Team, RAPTOR North, Marina Area Command, Mounted Unit, PolAir, Dog Unit, Rural Crime Prevention Team, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Youth Command, Police Transport Command and Licensing Police, who were deployed in and around Wauchope in a high-saturation police operation targeting identified offenders and crime hotspots.
The operation allowed police to engage with the public in highly visible areas and in vast numbers, reinforcing that the police are there to protect the community all day, every day.
The operation saw an increased presence of police on roads and waterways, as well as conducting regular taskings including drug detection dogs in licensed premises and Rural Crime Police engaging with firearms holders and farmers at the Wauchope saleyards.
Police also held a community engagement event in Wauchope on Saturday 9 March 2024 which saw over 1000 people engage with local police.
Results from Operation King Tide include:
- 684 RBTs conducted on the road and water resulting in one mid-range PCA and 10 positive preliminary roadside drug tests,
- 103 traffic infringements,
- 17 ADVO compliance checks,
- Crime prevention presentations to more than 1100 students, 330 retail employees and 100 seniors.
Incidents of note:
- About 10am on Thursday 7 March 2024, police executed a search warrant at a unit on High Street, Wauchope, where they allegedly located and seized an amount of cannabis and methamphetamine. A 49-year-old woman was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug, and was issued a court attendance notice to appear before Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday 27 March 2024.
- About 11.45am on Friday 8 March 2024, police attended a home on Farlow Street, Wauchope, to conduct a FPO and WPO compliance search. A search of the property allegedly revealed an amount of cannabis and three fireworks. A 21-year-old woman was issued a court attendance notice for possess prohibited drug and handle explosive/precursor without authorising licence. She will appear before Port Macquarie Local Court on Friday 26 April 2024.
- About 1pm on Friday 8 March 2024, police attended a home on Muston Stret, Port Macquarie, where they located a man wanted on three outstanding warrants. A 27-year-old man was arrested and taken to Port Macquarie Police Station where he was charge with three counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic), two counts of common assault (DV), destroy or damage property
- About 3.20pm on Saturday 9 March 2024, police attended a licensed premises on Oxley Street, Taree, where they arrested a 30-year-old man following an investigation into three alleged break and enters on the Mid North Coast. He was taken to Taree Police Station where he was charged with three counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, and deal with property proceeds of crime. He appeared before Port Macquarie Local Court yesterday (Sunday 10 March 2024) where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court today (Monday 11 March 2024).
Operation King Tide will be continually rolled-out through various deployments across the district.
