A FOUR-day secret operation targeting known domestic violence offenders has seen four men refused bail, including one allegedly armed with a meat cleaver and a pole.
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New England police conducted the domestic violence high-risk offender operation which wrapped up on Monday night, using officers from the local Target Action Group (TAG) and the New England Crime Management Unit (CMU).
Four men were arrested on the spot for domestic-related offences including assaults and intimidation.
“It was a proactive operation in the sense that police were attending premises and making observations in relation to apprehended domestic violence orders (AVOs) rather than responding to a report of a breach,” New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy told Fairfax Media.
“In essence, police are aiming to prevent a crime from occurring.”
“Police will allege one Armidale man was armed with a meat cleaver, a pole and scissors and was wanted for a number of days before he was arrested by officers from TAG in Armidale on Monday,” Detective Inspector Joy said.
In essence, police are aiming to prevent a crime from occurring.
- New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy
The man was refused bail on six charges including armed with intent to commit a serious indictable offence, assault and malicious damage.
A second Armidale man was charged with two counts of assault and malicious damage while two Glen Innes men were charged with breaching AVOs and refused bail.
More than a dozen compliance checks and detections were made by police, and two children were removed from a home and placed into care, as part of the operation.
The men charged face a maximum of two years behind bars for breaching a condition of an AVO as well as assaults.
“Each of the four offenders that have been arrested and charged and have been refused bail,” Detective Inspector Joy said,
“While these are domestic-related offences, they are very serious charges.”
The operation comes on the back of the force’s announcement last week to set-up a Western Region DV high-risk offender team made up of six police, based in Tamworth and Dubbo.
“Police conduct these sorts of checks on a regular basis but this was a particular and targeted operation with additional resources,” Detective Inspector Joy said.
“New England police are committed to ensuring the safety of both victims and children at risk and officers will act.
“Often matters go undetected and if we’re not receiving reports, then police can’t investigate or intervene.
Police conduct these sorts of checks on a regular basis but this was a particular and targeted operation with additional resources.
- New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy
“This was a concentrated operation focusing on and detecting domestic related offences and ensuring there is compliance with orders that have been made, and we’re ensuring compliance by visiting these premises and speaking with both offenders and victims in the process.”