NSW Police Transport Command and officers from Albury and Wagga Wagga Local Area Commands are conducting a three-day cross-border crackdown with Victoria Police on public transport.

Operation Southern Aurora started today (Thursday 17 December 2015) and will run until Saturday 19 December 2015.

As part of the operation, police will patrol interstate XPT trains from Sydney to Melbourne and Canberra Xplorer services between Campbelltown and Queanbeyan, and V/Line services to Melbourne.

NSW Police Transport Command’s Superintendent Dave Roptell said police are targeting crime and anti-social behaviour on public transport, not just in the metropolitan areas but also on rural networks.

“Police will not tolerate crime, property damage, anti-social behaviour or drug and alcohol use on our public transport networks and will be issuing penalty notices to anyone caught doing the wrong thing.”

“The support from Local Area Commands within Southern Region to assist with this operation ensures travellers on the rural transport network experience a safe and clean environment,” Supt Roptell said.

A drug dog operation will be conducted at Wagga Wagga Railway Station today (Thursday 17 December 2015).

Officers will be at Albury Railway Station conducting the same operation, with assistance from Victoria Police Transit Safety Bureau tomorrow (Friday 18 December 2015).

“NSW Police will be joined by our Victorian counterparts in Albury to patrol trains together,” Supt Roptell said.

“This dual-state operation will ensure an effective and coordinated use of resources.”

Two men arrested at Yass following a police pursuit early yesterday have been charged.

Police were called to the Hume Highway at Gundagai about 2am (Sunday 13 December 2015), following reports of a break and enter on a business.

Two men driving a utility were pursued from Gundagai to Yass, during which police will allege a number of shots were fired by the men.

About 3.40am, those men stopped at a service centre at Yass, where police allege the men forced the driver of a Ford Falcon out of his vehicle at gunpoint.

Two ACT men, both aged 23, were arrested at the service centre and taken to Yass Police Station.

They have each been charged with numerous offences, including shoot with intent to murder, aggravated break and enter, assault and resist arrest.

Both have been refused bail to appear before Goulburn Local Court today (Monday 14 December 2015).

An independent critical incident team from Monaro Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm during the arrests.

That investigation will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.

FIRE crews extinguished a small grass blaze on Goulburn’s eastern outskirts on Saturday afternoon.

NSW Fire and Rescue was called to the fire on a no through road, off Bungonia Rd at 3.15pm.

There were unconfirmed residents’ reports a property owner had been using a slasher just before the outbreak. Smoke plumes could be seen from the Hume Highway but the blaze only burnt through about two acres.

Two town brigades were joined by five RFS crews – two from Bungonia and three Support units.

NSW Fire and Recue retained firefighter Chris Grady said while the wind was reasonably light at the time, the greater concern was that it could have jumped the road into longer grass. However they extinguished the fire within 30 minutes.

While a total fire ban was not in place in the fire region on Saturday, people are reminded to be eternally vigilant with the use of machinery, given the dry conditions.

The outbreak comes three weeks after a 60 hectares tore through land off the Goulburn Bypass in gusting conditions. It was sparked after a vehicle lost its trailer wheel on the Hume Highway.

Also on Saturday afternoon, at 4pm, the RFS was called to a grass fire at Bullspit Rd, Brayton. Marulan brigades are attending and are expected to be joined by others. At the time of writing, the fire had been contained.

Shots were fired during a lengthy police pursuit from Gundagai to Yass in southern New South Wales, police say.

Police said they were called to the Hume Highway at Gundagai about 2:00am today after reports of a break and enter at a business.

Two men driving a ute were pursued from Gundagai to Yass for close to two hours, during which officers allege a number of shots were fired by the men.

About 3:40am, the men, both aged 23 from the ACT, stopped at a service centre at Yass, where police said they forced the driver of a Ford Falcon out of his vehicle at gunpoint.

Both men were arrested at the service station and were taken to Yass Police Station.

Police said at least one firearm was seized for forensic examination.

An independent critical incident team from Monaro Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm during the arrests.

A critical incident investigation has been launched after shots were allegedly fired during a police pursuit and arrest at Yass this morning.

Police were called to the Hume Highway at Gundagai about 2am (Sunday 13 December 2015), following reports of a break and enter on a business.

Two men driving a utility were pursued from Gundagai to Yass, during which police will allege a number of shots were fired by the men.

About 3.40am, those men stopped at a service centre at Yass, where police allege the men forced the driver of a Ford Falcon out of his vehicle at gunpoint.

Two men, both aged 23 from the ACT, were arrested at the service centre and have been taken to Yass Police Station. At least one firearm has been seized for forensic examination.

An independent critical incident team from Monaro Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm during the arrests.

That investigation will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.

More than 100 new officers will join the ranks of the NSW Police Force today.

The 105 recruits will be sworn in at an attestation parade at the NSW Police Force Academy in Goulburn later this morning (Friday 11 December 2015).

They will begin work in their local area commands as probationary constables from next Monday (14 December 2015).

The officers will then complete 12 months’ on-the-job training and study by distance education with Charles Sturt University before they officially graduate with an Associate Degree in Policing Practice, and be confirmed in the rank of constable.

NSW Police Force Commissioner Andrew Scipione said he could not be more proud of the
82 men and 23 women who attested today.

“It is no small feat to have met the requirements of the police training program; it is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“With that behind them, the new officers are about to embark on a career that will be filled with challenges and rewards.

“I am confident they will approach their new roles with dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism,” he said.

The students of “Class 326” hail from a diverse range of countries, including not only Australia, but also Brazil, England, Italy, Malaysia, South Africa and Venezuela.

Seven of the new recruits identify as being from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background.

They are diverse in other ways, too: the youngest officer who attested today is aged 20; the eldest is 39. For some, it’s their first job; others have come to policing from an earlier career. Many come from Sydney, but there are also recruits who grew up on the South Coast Coast, Northern Tablelands, Blue Mountains, Canberra, Goulburn and Wagga Wagga.

FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT “CLASS 326”

A total of 105 new recruits will be sworn in today.

The class comprises 82 policeman and 23 policewomen.

Of the probationary constables who will attest today, 90 were born in Australia and 14 were born overseas. Their countries of origin include the Brazil, England, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Italy, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Venezuela and Wales.

Among those attesting today, seven probationary constables identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island background.

The two youngest recruits are aged 20 and the oldest is 39. Other age statistics:

4 are aged 18-20

48 are aged 21-25

30 are aged 26-30

18 are aged 31-35

5 are aged 36-40

A man has been charged over multiple serious alleged domestic violence offences, including shooting a woman with an air rifle, injuring her with a knife, and sexually assaulting her.

The alleged offences occurred between 2004 and 2015, with the majority occurring while the couple resided in Wagga Wagga; and some allegedly occurring in Ballina this year.

The allegations were reported for the first time in September this year and officers from Richmond Local Area Command immediately commenced inquiries under Strike Force Boat.

As a result of investigations, about 11am yesterday (Thursday 10 December 2015), a search warrant was executed at an address in West Ballina, where police seized computers, tattoo guns, compound bows and other items.

About 2 pm, police arrested a 41-year-old man at a work site in Moree.

He was taken to Moree Police Station, where he was charged with shoot with intent cause grievous bodily harm, four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and prohibition of female genitalia mutilation.

The man was refused bail, to appear before Moree Local Court today (Friday 11 December 2015).

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has officially dedicated a Memorial Rose Garden at the Police Academy in Goulburn this morning, in honour of Mrs Beverley Ann Moroney.

The Commissioner was joined by former NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney, AO, APM, MA (Rtd), members of the Moroney family, friends, and colleagues, for the dedication in Goulburn today (Thursday 10 December 2015).

Mrs Beverley Ann Moroney, wife of former NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney, passed away on Sunday 24 May 2015, aged 70, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Her unwavering support of her husband and care for their family during their various country postings, early in his policing career and later as Commissioner of Police, was always evident.

During his tenure as Police Commissioner, Mrs Moroney often travelled with her husband, where she visited many regional towns and small country police stations, always making an effort to check on the welfare of police officers’ families.

Mrs Moroney began work with a number of others to create the NSW Police Memorial Rose Garden on the grounds of the NSW Police Academy in 1987, when the former Commissioner was the Director of Training in Goulburn.

Her knowledge and passion for flowers, and roses in particular, encouraged the design of the garden, which was officially dedicated in February 1997.

Commissioner Scipione said the Memorial Rose Gardens are the perfect way to honour Mrs Moroney’s memory and her intrinsic connection to the NSW Police Force.

“Beverley Moroney was a much admired, widely respected and cherished member of the police family,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“She was known as a woman of warmth, grace and dignity, who genuinely cared for the many police families across the state.

“The Beverley Ann Moroney Memorial Rose Gardens will forever serve as a reminder of the devotion, sacrifice, and support family members offer our police, so they may continue to serve our community,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“I’m honoured to dedicate the gardens here today in recognition of Beverley’s service – her memory will live on in the grounds of the Police Academy.”

Following the dedication ceremony, Commissioner Scipione was joined by Education & Training Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, and Commander of the Aviation Support Branch, Superintendent Mark Noakes, to unveil the PolAir 1 display, at the entrance to the NSW Police Academy.

PolAir1 was the first police helicopter to operate in Australia; it was considered state-of-the-art at the time of its official launch and its use, highly innovative.

The helicopter operated as part of the Aviation Support Branch from 1979, and was officially decommissioned in 2006.

PolAir1 was a key specialist resource utilised during several policing events including the Milperra shooting in 1984, Belanglo homicide investigations in the 1990s and Sydney Olympics in 2000.

“PolAir1 represents a significant milestone for the Aviation Support Branch, being the first owned and operated NSW Police aircraft in its history,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“Since its inception, PolAir1 provided invaluable policing support through search and rescue operations, drug eradication programs and investigative support via intelligence gathering. The permanent display at the Police Academy honours this contribution.

“The Aviation Support Branch continues to be an integral part of the arsenal of tools used in the fight against crime – providing a highly visible presence designed to prevent and detect offences and allow for a safe and secure New South Wales.”

Police are appealing for information into the whereabouts of a man wanted on several outstanding warrants.

Steven James Babic, 32, is wanted by virtue of outstanding warrants relating to break and enter offences.

He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170-180cm tall, a muscular build with short brown hair. He has a number of tattoos on his arms and shoulders.

He is known to frequent areas in the Australian Capital Territory and the Belconnen area.

Police warn the public that Mr Babic should not be approached.

Anyone who sees Steven James Babic or knows his current whereabouts is urged not to approach him but instead contact Triple Zero (000) immediately.