Police Blitz on NSW Public Transport Network Results in Hundreds of Criminal Charges

The NSW Police Force has confirmed that 176 people were arrested, 326 criminal charges laid, and 10 knives seized during the latest four-day public transport blitz under Operation Waratah 4.

Launched in 2024, Operation Waratah is a high-visibility operation that police say is aimed at detecting and disrupting criminal conduct across the Sydney metropolitan public transport network. The latest phase, Waratah 4, was conducted between Wednesday 11 and Sunday 14 June 2025, involving over 150 New South Wales police officers deployed across transport hubs throughout the state.

Since its inception, Operation Waratah has resulted in 833 arrests, 1,474 charges, and the seizure of 90 knives.

What Happened During Operation Waratah 4

According to the NSW Police Force, the most recent operation involved:

• 536 trains patrolled
• 385 people searched
• 8 vehicles searched
• 201 move-on directions issued
• 60 drug detections
• 149 bail compliance checks
• 41 arrests for bail breaches or outstanding warrants
• 377 rail infringements issued
• 10 knives seized

Detective Superintendent Andrew Evans of Police Transport North West praised the operation and the efforts of his officers.

“Everyone using our public transport system deserves to feel safe,” he 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.”

Superintendent Evans confirmed that although Waratah 4 has concluded, high-visibility patrols across the transport network will continue.

Incidents of Note

While much of the campaign focused on general surveillance and stop-and-search practices, NSW Police highlighted several specific incidents that led to serious charges:

Alleged Sexual Touching and Stalking – Parramatta

On 19 May 2025, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly followed from Parramatta Railway Station and sexually touched. Following an investigation, a 34-year-old man was arrested in Parramatta on 4 June 2025, charged with sexually touching another person without consent and stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm. He was refused bail and remains in custody, scheduled to reappear at Parramatta Local Court on 17 July 2025.

Alleged Attempted Robbery – St Marys

On 25 May 2025, a 33-year-old man was allegedly threatened with a screwdriver by a group of youths at St Marys Railway Station. A search warrant executed on 6 June led to the arrest of two 12-year-old boys.

• One was charged with driving a conveyance without consent, assault with intent to rob armed with an offensive weapon, and participation in a criminal group.
• The other was charged with assault with intent to rob in company, criminal group participation, and wearing a disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence.
  Both were refused bail and appeared before the Children’s Court on 7 June 2025.

Alleged Spitting on Transport Worker – Mt Druitt

On 19 May 2025, a man allegedly spat on a female Transport for NSW employee at Mt Druitt Railway Station. After executing a search warrant on 10 June, police arrested a 28-year-old man on 11 June. He was charged with common assault and is scheduled to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court on 23 July 2025.

Teen Charged with 22 Criminal Offences – Caringbah

A 15-year-old boy was arrested on 11 June 2025 at Caringbah and charged with 22 offences, including:

• Driving a conveyance without consent
• Entering train crew compartments without permission
• Two counts of intentionally or recklessly destroying or damaging property
• Two counts of marking premises or property without consent, which is also known as graffiti
• Seven counts of larceny
• Eight counts of railway trespass

The teenager was granted conditional bail to appear before the Children’s Court on 9 July 2025.

Alleged Bus Driver Assault – Villawood

On 24 February 2025, a man allegedly punched a bus driver in the head after the driver declined to take him home. On 11 June 2025, police arrested a 39-year-old man at a Villawood address, who was later charged with common assault and travelling without a valid ticket. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court on 10 July 2025.

Alleged Resisting Arrest – Auburn

On 11 June 2025, a 20-year-old woman was stopped at Auburn Railway Station for a ticket check and found to have an outstanding warrant. She allegedly kicked multiple officers during her arrest and later assaulted a further officer at Auburn Police Station. She was charged with:

• Three counts of assaulting police
• One count of intimidating police
• Goods in custody suspected of being stolen
  She was refused bail and remains in custody pending her appearance at Burwood Local Court on 24 June 2025.

Alleged Property Damage & Threats – Gordon

On 13 June 2025, two teens allegedly threatened a Transport for NSW worker at Gordon Railway Station, with one boy smashing a door and throwing cleaning supplies onto the tracks. A 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with intentionally or recklessly destroying or damaging property, intimidation, and assaulting a police officer in execution of duty. He made a successful bail application and is scheduled to appear before the Children’s Court on 16 July 2025.

Ongoing Public Appeals

Police have also confirmed that 15 individuals were identified through public appeals, resulting in four arrests during the latest phase of Operation Waratah.

Saturation Policing Targets the Most Vulnerable

While the NSW Police tout these results as a win for commuter safety, the legal community and civil liberties groups question the need for saturation policing which routinely uses heavy-handed tactics to arrest the most vulnerable, especially youths and other marginalised groups and communities, often charging them with relatively minor criminal offences resulting from questionable and even illegal searches.