A major police operation across NSW has resulted in the seizure of 72 knives/weapons and more than 165 people charged with weapon-related offences.
Operation Foil ran from July 4-6 targetting knife crime and anti-social-behaviour.
Police were patrolling a shopping centre on Wyong Rd, Tuggerah at about 8pm on Thursday, July 4, when they observed an alleged assault involving two males.
Two 17-year-olds were arrested and police were told that one of the males had allegedly discarded a knife.
Following a brief search, officers located a knife nearby.
During a search of the other 17-year-old police allegedly found a knife.
Both teenagers were taken to Wyong Police Station.
One 17-year-old was dealt with under the Young Offenders Act and the other was charged with affray and custody of a knife in a public place.
He was given conditional bail to appear in a Children’s Court on August 13.
During the high visibility, statewide Operation Foil, 72 knives/weapons were seized and 165 people charged with weapon related offences.
The operation involved more than 700 officers from every Police Area Command and Police District in NSW, assisted by specialist officers from Youth Command, Police Transport and Public Safety Command, and Traffic and Highway Patrol.
Police also detected a number of other breaches including 52 people arrested over outstanding warrants, 165 drug detections, 695 traffic infringement notices issued and 410 rail infringement notices issued.
During the four-day blitz police also performed almost 3,600 random breath tests and 570 bail compliance checks.
Operations Manager North-West Metropolitan Region, Detective Inspector Guy Magee, said the aim of Operation Foil was to remove weapons from the streets and make the community safer.
“Operation Foil was established to get these weapons out of the hands of individuals who may potentially use them to target other people,” he said.
“Knife crime is an issue across the state and can change lives in an instant, which is why police will continue to proactively target and arrest anyone who poses a threat to the safety of the community.”
Operation Pivot was run in conjunction with Operation Foil from July 1-5, which involved police officers visiting 138 schools in metropolitan and regional areas to speak with students.
Superintendent Samuel Crisafulli of Youth Command said Operation Pivot was an initiative aimed at reducing crime through early intervention and engagement with young people.
“We’re trying to urge young people to think about the potential consequences of their actions, as one wrong decision can dramatically change your life,” he said.
“Since it began in 2021, Operation Pivot has seen police engage with more than 4,000 at-risk youths across NSW, and deliver anti-violence presentations to 1,287 schools, educating 206,765 students.”