Police Briefs

With Mick Roberts

POLICE continued their crackdown on drugs, alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour in the inner-city last weekend.
Operation Rolling Thunder II saw police swoop on pubs and clubs in the Surry Hills, Kings Cross and City Central Local Area Commands, arresting 17 people with a total of 32 charges.
Offences included possession and supply of prohibited drugs, assault police, resist arrest, hinder police and offensive behaviour.
With the assistance of a police detection dog, there were 14 charged of possess prohibited drug, three charges of deemed supply of prohibited drug, three charges of resist arrest, two charges of offensive behaviour, two charges of breach of bail, one charge of assault police, one charge of assault, one charge of goods in custody, one charge of stealing, one charge of fail to pay for petrol, and three traffic offences.
Drugs seized during the operation include ice, ecstasy and cocaine.
A total of 29 people and 6 vehicles were searched, with 30 checks on licensed premises carried out by police.
The operation also involved police from the State Protection Group Dog Unit, Operation Support Group, Public Order Riot Squad, Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad, Gang Squad, and Region Enforcement Squad.
It follows the success of Operation Rolling Thunder in Surry Hills Local Area Command over the June long weekend when 70 arrests were made, numerous drug detections and the seizure of a machine gun from a man in a Darlinghurst laneway.
Acting Central Metropolitan Region Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch, said police were adamant that alcohol and drug-related crime, along with other offences in the inner city entertainment areas would continue to be targeted.
‘Alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour are firmly in our sights, as well as ensuring the responsible service of alcohol and a level of personal responsibility,’ Com Murdoch said.
‘Criminal behaviour, regardless of whether it’s associated with alcohol or drug consumption, won’t be tolerated by the NSW Police Force. If you play up, then you can expect police action ‘ it’s as simple as that,’ he said.
Further high visibility operations are planned for the inner city. 

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A MAN has been charged with murder following the discovery of a body in a bath in Redfern.
Just before 9pm on Friday June 20, police were called to a home on Morehead Street, Redfern after receiving reports of an incident.
Police from Redfern Local Area Command arrived to find a 56-year-old man dead in the bathroom.
A 37-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Redfern Police Station where he was interviewed and later charged with murder.
The man has been refused bail and is before the courts.

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AN 18th person has been charged over a brawl at a central Sydney shopping centre last year.
The brawl involved around 30 people inside the complex at the corner of George and Liverpool Streets about 11pm on Saturday 29 September 29.
During the altercation two 18-year-old men and a 17-year-old youth sustained serious stab wounds. They arrived at St Vincent’s Hospital in a taxi, with two of the injured undergoing surgery.
One of the 18-year-old men suffered multiple stab wounds to the chest, with the knife puncturing his lung and causing a minor laceration to his heart. He has since been released from hospital.
A fourth man, aged 18, attended Auburn Hospital in the early hours of the following day suffering a stab wound and was treated, before being released.
Strike Force Rounce ‘ comprising detectives from the Asian Crime Squad and City Central Local Area Command ‘ has been carrying out extensive ongoing inquiries into the incident.
The 17-year-old boy was arrested at Randwick and taken to Maroubra Police Station for questioning.
He was conditionally bailed to appear in Bidura Children’s Court charged with participation in a criminal group, riot, and affray.
Inquiries by Strike Force Rounce are continuing.