SEVEN people have been charged following a three-day, high-visibility surge operation focused on preventing and disrupting crime in Moree, with POLAIR assisting with at least one arrest.

From Thursday, February 19 to Saturday, February 21, general duties police from New England Police District were assisted by specialist officers from the Operations Support Group, Youth Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol, POLAIR and the Dog Unit Western Region, to target and reduce crime in the Moree area.

PolAir-Remote was deployed to assist with the operation, during which seven people were charged with a total of 10 offences.

An additional 10 people were issued Future Court Attendance Notices and Field Court Attendance Notices for 10 further offences.

Officers conducted 10 person and vehicle searches, one firearm prohibition search, 18 ADVO and bail compliance checks, and made five drug detections.

Youth Command officers also engaged with over 40 young people within the community through events, local school visits and NRL pathways work.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Command conducted 224 random breath tests, and 126 roadside drug tests – 16 of which resulted in secondary positive results.

They also issued four defects, 43 Traffic Infringement Notices, and five traffic charges.

Significant incidents

On Friday, February 20, a 39-year-old man – wanted for an outstanding warrant – was arrested on Oak Street with the assistance of POLAIR.

He was taken to Moree Police Station where he was charged with break and enter dwelling-house etc with intent (steal), break and enter house etc steal value less than or equal to $60,000, possess prohibited drug, fail to appear in accordance with bail acknowledgment, and breach of bail. He was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 5 on Saturday, February 21, where he was formally refused bail to face Coonamble Local Court on Tuesday, March 10.

On Saturday, February 21, a 45-year-old man was arrested on Frome Street and taken to Moree Police Station where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV), steal from the person value less than or equal to $2000, and breach of bail.

He was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 5 on the same day, where he was formally refused bail to face Moree Local Court on Tuesday, May 19.

Future surge operations in Moree will again utilise PolAir-Remote to target and reduce crime in the area.

Anyone with information about region-based crime 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.