Police crackdown on transport worker abusers - Operation Waratah 4
Friday, 06 June 2025 07:22:01 AM
Police Transport Command officers will be cracking down on violent offenders to ensure the safety of the state’s transport workers under Operation Waratah 4.
Operation Waratah was established in 2024 and has seen hundreds of the state’s most violent offenders arrested and charged for offences committed against commuters and transport staff.
This includes the arresting and charging some of Sydney’s most significant sexual, domestic violence and physical abusers.
In June 2025, police commenced Operation Waratah 4 which will focus on violent offences committed against Transport for NSW staff.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Evans, Police Transport North West Commander, said a significant number of violent offences on public transport are directed at staff.
“A staggering number of violent offences my officers respond to are against Transport for NSW staff,”
“These are hardworking people just trying to keep our trains, busses and light rails running and they don’t deserve this treatment.” Det Supt Evans said.
“The goal of this operation is to arrest, charge and prevent these offenders from abusing further workers,”
“During this operation we plan to lockdown high traffic areas on our transport network, conduct multiple firearm prohibition order compliance checks and saturate the network with officers to weed out these offenders.”
Incidents under investigation by Operation Waratah 4 include:
Incident A – About 9.50pm on Sunday 19 January 2025, police received a report that a Transport for NSW worker was assaulted with a bag while entering a lift at Lidcombe Railway Station. As inquiries continue, police have released an image of a man who may be able to assist officers with their investigation.
Incident B – About 1pm on Monday 19 May 2025, police were called to Mt Druitt Railway Station following reports of an assault. Officers arrived and were told a female Transport for NSW worker was spat on by an unknown man before he fled the scene. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident C – About 11.50am on Wednesday 13 November 2024, officers received a report of an assault at Central Railway Station. Police were told a Transport for NSW worker was checking tickets when they located a man without a ticket attempting to board a train to Goulburn. When the worker asked the man to leave the train the man threatened him before leaving. A short time later the man returned and assaulted the worker before pushing him over and leaving the scene. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident D – About 2.20pm on Thursday 17 April 2025, police were called to Lidcombe Railway Station following reports of a theft. Following initial inquiries, police located CCTV showing a man directing a child to steal a bag belonging to a Transport for NSW worker before stealing a phone from the bag. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident E – About 9.50pm on Wednesday 30 April 2025, police were called to Mt Druitt Railway Station following reports of a theft. Officers were told that a Transport for NSW worker’s bag – containing an Apple iPad, cash and personal items – had been stolen. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident F – About 8.25pm on Wednesday 14 May 2025, police were called to Blacktown Railway Station following reports of an assault. Officers arrived and were told a male Transport for NSW worker had been kicked in the chest by a man. Police were also told that the unknown man had assaulted two teens before their arrival. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident G – About 12am on Monday 14 April 2025, police received a report of an assault on a train travelling to Kings Cross Railway Station. Officers were told a man had allegedly kicked a 26-year-old woman to the ground before yelling racial remarks at several other women on the train. When the 26-year-old woman went to confront the man, he clawed at her face and proceeded to kick her in the chest multiple times. Following the assault the man then fled at Kings Cross Railway Station. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident H – About 9.20am on Monday 7 April 2025, police received a report of an inappropriate incident on a train travelling from Central Station to Bondi Junction. Police were told a man had performed a sexual act in the presence of a 37-year-old woman on the train before fleeing the carriage when he was confronted. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident I – About 5.10pm on Thursday 20 February 2025, police received a report of an assault in the Devonshire Tunnel, Central Railway Station. Officers arrived and were told a 24-year-old man had been assaulted by a man while walking through the tunnel. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident J – About 6pm on Saturday 29 March 2025, police received a report of an assault in St James Railway Station. Officers were told a 31-year-old man had his head slammed into a brick wall by an unknown man who fled the scene. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident K – About 5.30pm on Monday 24 February 2025, police received a report of an assault on a bus travelling on Alcoomie Street, Villawood. Officers were told a man had punched a bus driver in the head after he refused to bypass planned stops and take the man directly to his home. During the incident the man also punched the bus door multiple times before fleeing the vehicle. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident L – About 5.30am on Thursday 27 February 2025, police received a report of an assault on a bus at Fairfield Railway Station. Officers were told a man had allegedly verbally abused a bus driver after he refused to drive the bus at a dangerous speed. The man then left the bus; however, as he was leaving he spat on the bus driver and fled the scene. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident M – About 12.15am on Monday 24 February 2025, police received a report of an assault at Hurstville Railway Station. Officers were told a man had made threats to a homeless man before following him along Forest Road, Hurstville, and punching him multiple times in the head. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident N – About 11.20pm on Saturday 8 March 2025, police received a report of an assault at Warwick Farm Railway Station. Officers were told a 68-year-old man had been punched in the face by an unknown man while walking through a tunnel connecting the station to Freeman Street. Following the assault the 68-year-old was threatened with a rock before the unknown man fled the scene. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Incident O – About 2.20pm on Wednesday 8 January 2025, police received a report of an assault on a train travelling toward Engadine Railway Station. Officers were told a 13-year-old boy had been sitting in a carriage when an unknown man approached and threatened him before slapping him in the face. The boy immediately fled and later notified police. As inquiries continue, officers have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.