NSW Police have charged 732 people during a domestic violence operation that saw officers work across the state and into the ACT in what is an historic first for the organisation.
Operation Amarok 14 ran from Friday 14 August to Sunday 16 August, focused on identifying domestic and family violence offenders who present an increased threat to victims due to their capability, intent and access.
The operation is intelligence-led and offender-focused, aiming to ensure the safety and wellbeing of domestic and family violence victims and the broader community.
Deputy Commissioner Regional NSW Field Operations, Paul Pisanos said domestic and family violence can occur in any family or community.
“Police receive a domestic and family violence-related call every three minutes. Behind every call for help is a person experiencing fear and a family whose safety has been impacted,” Deputy Commissioner Pisanos said.
“But domestic and family violence is not just a policing issue. It is a whole-of-society issue and while police play a role, we all need to work together to reduce the scourge.
“If you hear or see something, report it to police. You can even do that confidentially through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
Following the proven success of Operation Amarok – which has now seen more than 9,067 offenders charged since 2023 – NSW Police for the first time held the operation in conjunction with ACT Policing and the Australian Federal Police.
ACT Policing has modelled Operation Shepherd, which was held from Wednesday 12 August to Sunday 16 August, on Operation Amarok.
NSW Police provided ACT Policing with an operational blueprint, strategies and resources and worked with AFP to extradite offenders wanted for alleged domestic violence charges.
ACT Policing Detective Superintendent Kylie Lawson said the operations were an opportunity to put family violence offenders on notice.
“We take family violence seriously every day of the year but operations such as these allow us to pool our resources and information and target those people who have evaded police detection,” Detective Superintendent Lawson said.
“We will also seek to continuously improve our response to family violence, to see if there are better ways we can share information with our partners to ensure that offenders are held to account no matter where they live, and victim-survivors are protected.”
The Domestic and Family Violence Command led the operation with the assistance of general duty officers, Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Teams (DVHROT), along with specialist officers from State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad, Youth Command, State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, and the Police Transport Command.
Across the three days, 732 people were arrested and charged, with 228 arrest warrants executed.
Police laid 1,589 charges and conducted 1,497 bail compliance checks and 12,054 apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) compliance checks with a total of 546 breaches identified.
Officers conducted 93 firearms prohibition order (FPO) searches, with 118 firearms and 16 weapons seized.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley said the results are a stark and confronting reminder of the scale of domestic violence across NSW.
“732 people charged. 1,589 offences. Three days. These are the results police deliver when we back them with the resources and support to take the fight directly to offenders,” she said.
“This is the 14th Operation Amarok, and our police are not slowing down. The Minns Government supports this operation and backs every officer going through doors to protect victim-survivors.
“These alleged offenders rely on fear and control. Amarok turns that pressure back onto them.
“For the first time, NSW Police worked with ACT Policing. A border is not a hiding place, and it should not protect alleged offenders from the consequences of their actions.”
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said the recent results of Operation Amarok were “sobering.”
“But it also means many more victim-survivors are safer at home and in the community,” she said.
“With our Police now working with ACT Police in this recent operation, perpetrators can no longer escape by crossing the border.
“The Minns Government continues to work hard to support victim-survivors when they escape violence through increased funding for specialist support programs and taking strong action to hold domestic and family violence perpetrators to account.”
Victims of domestic and family violence can find information about support services by contacting 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visiting: https://www.1800respect.org.au.
Reports of domestic and family-related crime or abuse can be made by contacting or attending your local police station. In an emergency, contact Triple Zero (000).
Anyone with information relating to domestic and family-related violence is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
