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176 arrested, 326 charges laid, 10 knives seized in latest public transport campaign - Operation Waratah 4

Sunday, 15 June 2025 10:52:32 AM

More than 170 people have been arrested during the Police Transport Command’s latest campaign targeting transport network offenders, bringing the total Operation Waratah arrests to 833 since its inception in 2024.

Operation Waratah was established to target violent offenders using Sydney’s transport network, and those committing offences on public transport.

Since its launch, Operation Waratah officers have laid a total of 1474 charges and seized 90 knives, with the latest campaign – Operation Waratah 4 – resulting in the arrest of 176 people and 326 charges laid.

The planning phase of this latest campaign commenced in May 2025, with an operational phase of 150 officers deployed to arrest and disrupt offenders at transport hubs between 11 June to 14 June 2025.

Latest results include,

  • 536 trains patrolled
  • 10 knives seized
  • 385 people searched
  • Eight vehicles searched
  • 201 move-on directions issued
  • 60 drug detections made
  • 149 bail compliance checks conducted
  • 41 people arrested for breaching bail or outstanding warrants, and
  • 377 rail infringements issued.

Police Transport North West Commander, Detective Superintendent Andrew Evans, praised the efforts of officers during the operation.

“Everyone using our public transport system deserves to feel safe and the fact more than 170 people have been arrested demonstrates the NSW Police’s commitment to commuter safety,” Supt Evans said.

“With 10 knives seized during this most-recent campaign, it’s evident that proactive operations such as Waratah 4 are effective in removing those weapons, identifying those responsible and putting them before the court.

“While Waratah 4 has concluded, police will continue to proactively patrol Sydney’s public transport network and conduct further high-visibility operations,” he said.

Incidents of note include,

  • About 12.20pm on Monday 19 May 2025, police were called to Argyle Street, Parramatta, following reports of a stalking incident. Officers responded and were told a 17-year-old girl had been followed from Parramatta Railway Station by a man who allegedly inappropriately touched her. Following inquiries, Operation Waratah officers arrested a 34-year-old man in Parramatta about 11.30am on Wednesday 4 June 2025. He was taken to Parramatta Police Station where he was charged with sexually touch another person without consent and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm. The man was refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Thursday 5 June 2025, where he was further refused bail to reappear before the same court on Thursday 17 July 2025.

  • About 11.20am on Sunday 25 May 2025, police were called to St Marys Railway Station following reports of an attempted robbery. Officers arrived and were told a group of young people had threatened a 33-year-old man with a screwdriver before leaving the train. Following inquiries, Operation Waratah officers executed a search warrant about 7am on Friday 6 June 2025 at a St Marys home. During the search police seized a moped scooter – believed to have been stolen from Parramatta – and arrested two 12-year-old boys before taking them to Penrith Police Station. One boy was charged with take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, assault with intent to rob armed with offensive weapon, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity. The second boy was charged with assault with intent to rob in company, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and face blackened/disguised with intent to commit indictable offence. Both boys were refused bail and appeared before a children’s court on Saturday 7 June 2025.

  • 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 allegedly spat on by a man before he fled the scene. Following inquiries, Operation Waratah officers executed a search warrant at a home on Sorenson Crescent, Blackett, about 4pm on Tuesday 10 June 2025. During the search police seized clothing related to the alleged offence. Following further inquiries, a 28-year-old man was arrested about 8.30am on Wednesday 11 June 2025 at Mount Druitt Police Station. The man has now been charged with common assault and will appear before Mount Druitt Local Court on Wednesday 23 July 2025.

  • On Wednesday 11 June 2025, officers attached to Operation Waratah arrested a 15-year-old boy at a Caringbah and took him to Sutherland Police Station where he was charged with 22 offences including drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, never licenced person drive vehicle on road, passenger enter crew compartment of train without permission, destroy or damage property (two counts), intentionally mark premises without prescribed consent (two counts), larceny (seven counts), and go onto or into or remain on or in running line (eight counts). Police will allege in court the teen stole train carriage plates, damaged the interiors of buses and trains and trespassed on train lines and into driver compartments. The boy was granted conditional bail to appear before children’s court on Wednesday 9 July 2025.

  • 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 allegedly punched a bus driver in the head when the driver refused to drive the man home. The man also allegedly punched the bus door multiple times before leaving the bus. Following inquiries, Operation Waratah officers arrested a 39-year-old man at a home on Gundaroo Street, Villawood, about 5.30pm on Wednesday 11 June 2025. The man was taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with common assault, and travel or attempt to travel without a valid ticket. The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Thursday 10 July 2025.

  • About 3pm on Wednesday 11 June 2025, Operation Waratah officers were patrolling Auburn Railway Station, when they stopped a woman for a ticket inspection. During the inspection police identified the woman had an outstanding warrant and attempted to arrest her. During the arrest, the 20-year-old woman allegedly kicked multiple officers before being taken to Auburn Police Station, where she allegedly assaulted a further officer. No officers required hospital treatment. She was charged with assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm (three counts), intimidate police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm, and goods in personal custody suspected being stolen. The woman was refused bail and appeared before Burwood Local Court on Thursday 12 June 2025, where she was again refused bail to appear before the same court on Tuesday 24 June 2025.

  • About 9pm on Friday 13 June 2025, police were called to Gordon Railway Station following reports of malicious damage. Operation Waratah officers arrived and were told two young people had allegedly been making threats to a Transport for NSW worker on the platform before one of the boys smashed an office door and threw cleaning supplies onto the tracks. Police arrested the 17-year-old boy and issued a move-on direction to the other teen. The boy allegedly assaulted several officers before being taken to Hornsby Police Station where he was charged with destroy or damage property, attempt stalk/intimidate intend fear of harm, and assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm. The teen was granted conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on Wednesday 16 July 2025.

During the initial stages, appeals to identify 15 people resulted in four being arrested during the operation.

Inquiries to locate the remaining persons of interest continue.

Anyone with information about offences being committed on the public transport network 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.