Police from four districts joined forces for an operation to proactively target crime across the Northern Region, including in Lake Macquarie, on Friday night.
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Operation Surge was conducted from 5pm on Friday, to 2am on Saturday, with more than 130 officers from Lake Macquarie, Newcastle City, Port Stephens-Hunter and Hunter Valley police districts taking part.
General duties police, with assistance from the Police Dog Unit and PolAir conducted a high-visibility saturation of the region which included towns and suburbs of Lake Macquarie.
"The aim of the operation was to create an evolving environment with the ability to deploy resources where they're needed with the aid of real-time intelligence," a police spokesperson said.
Preliminary results from Operation Surge show:
- 18 people arrested;
- 31 charges laid;
- 101 business inspections conducted;
- 14 drug detections;
- 31 vehicles searched;
- 926 RBTs conducted; and
- 92 traffic infringement notices issued.
The deployment saw Operation Surge staff assist with more than 60 calls for service across the Hunter basin - in addition to general duty policing resources.
"During Operation Surge, these officers were not bound by their policing districts - they were on the beat to serve the entire Hunter basin," operation commander, Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey, said.
"We want the Hunter community to go out and about enjoying their lives, knowing they are safe and protected by their local police. This was the first time Operation Surge was put into practice, with more than 130 officers out in the field and a team of staff behind the scenes.
"Residents should feel confident that their local police are out in numbers, protecting their neighbourhoods and families."
Northern Region commander, Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell, said Operation Surge was just one of several proactive policing strategies being implemented across the region.
"We are continually putting the community first with increases in boots on the ground and proactive teams working within our police districts," Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
"Each district has a Target Action Group with dedicated officers focusing on certain crimes, including drug and stealing offences. While dedicated High Risk Domestic Violence units are out in the region every day.
"Strike Force Raptor North continues to crack down on outlaw motorcycle gang activity across the Hunter, and between the four Hunter police districts, we received more than 20 probationary constables in the latest allocation.
"Operation Surge was created as a way to engage with the public whilst targeting and reacting to the fluid, multi-tasking crime environment.
"We will continue to roll out proactive operations and strategies like 'Surge' on a regular basis," Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
