Two teenagers have been charged after an alleged attempted robbery near Newcastle last weekend.

About 4.50pm on Sunday 22 May 2016, an 18-year-old man was walking along Charlestown Road, Charlestown when he was approached by two males – aged 15 and 17.

Police will allege the 15-year-old boy, demanded the man’s phone and wallet.

When the man tried to run away, it’s alleged the 15-year-old and 17-year-old assaulted him, before he was able to escape.

The man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics for minor grazing to his arm.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation.

Following inquiries, on Monday 23 May 2016, a 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged with demand property with menaces with intent to steal in company.

He was refused bail to appear before a children’s court on Monday 6 June 2016.

Today (Friday 27 May 2016), a 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with demand property with menaces with intent to steal in company.

He was refused bail to appear before a children’s court on Monday 30 May 2016.

Police are appealing for public assistance after a suspicious bush fire in the Hunter Valley this morning.

About 2.30am (Thursday 26 May 2016), a suspicious fire was lit in bush near the corner of Long Street and Old Maitland Road, Cessnock.

This spot has houses in close proximity. The fire burned an area of 20 x 10 metres before being extinguished by Fire & Rescue NSW officers.

Nobody was injured.

Police from Central Hunter LAC are investigating. There was a similar incident at the location on Saturday (21 May 2016).

Any witnesses are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police have executed a search warrant at a home in Morisset, seizing a hydroponics set up and over 30 cannabis plants.

About 9.20am on Tuesday 24 May 2016, police executed two search warrants at units on Kalaf Avenue, Morisset.

Inside the locations police located a highly sophisticated hydroponics set-up, consisting of three large hydroponic tents.

Each of the tents contained numerous cannabis plants, lights, fans, transformers and ventilation ducting.

Police seized 31 mature cannabis plants, 42 cannabis clones, 27 hydroponic lights and transformers, numerous carbon filters and fans, as well as an amount of cannabis leaf.

Police arrested the 39-year-old leaseholder at the location.

He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug, cultivate prohibited plant and alter or add to electricity installation for metering.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on 8 June 2016.

Police from Central Hunter Local Area Command (LAC) will next week host information sessions to discuss ways police and Aboriginal people can work together to create stronger, safer communities.

The information sessions will take place at various locations within the command, in the state’s north, between Monday (30 May 2016) and Tuesday (31 May 2016) next week.

The sessions are being conducted as part of the NSW Police Aboriginal Strategic Direction (2012 – 2017), which is a blueprint for how LACs engage and interact with Aboriginal communities.

This policy aims to build strong relationships between police and Aboriginal people, and deliver meaningful outcomes for their local communities.

It has four key priority areas: to ensure community safety; improve communication and understanding between police and Aboriginal people; reduced involvement and improved safety of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system; and Aboriginal youth offending.

“Over the next few months, we are hosting information sessions at more than 40 commands across NSW to enhance community knowledge about the Aboriginal Strategic Direction,” NSW Police Force Corporate Spokesperson on Aboriginal Issues, Acting Deputy Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, said.

“It’s not the first time we have reached out to Aboriginal communities about the policy; we held a similar round of community-engagement activities in 2012 and 2013,” Acting Deputy Commissioner McKechnie said.

“However, we are taking this opportunity to revisit Aboriginal communities across the state – including within Central Hunter LAC – to reinforce the powerful ways in which police and Aboriginal people can work together to build stronger, safer communities,” he said.

“As the Aboriginal Strategic Direction is up for review next year, we will also be seeking input on how we can forge even more productive partnerships between police and Aboriginal people in the future,” Acting Deputy Commissioner McKechnie said.

Representatives from the NSW Police Aboriginal Co-ordination Team will run the information sessions, which are taking place within Central Hunter LAC at the following locations and subsequent times:

Monday 30 May 2016

9.30am: Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council (Chelmsford Drive, Metford)

Midday: Barkuma Neighbourhood Centre (Lang Street, Kurri Kurri)

Tuesday 31 May 2016

10am: Mayaroo Aboriginal Organisation (Wine Country Drive, Cessnock)

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command established Strike Force Malsbury to investigate drug offences in the area.

As a result of this investigation, two men were arrested at a service station in Warnervale in the early hours of Friday 20 May 2016.

Following these arrests, four search warrants were executed in Newcastle CBD at two residential units and two storage units.

Police located and seized:

– Three firearms (shortened shotgun, pistol and pen gun);

– Five motorbikes;

– One car;

– $10,000 cash

– Five pounds of cannabis

– Four ounces of ‘ice’

– 30 MDMA pills;

– Large number of power tools

A 32 year-old-male has been charged with various drug supply and drug possession offences.

A 20 year-old-male has been charged with drug supply and drug possession offences.

Both men were refused police bail and appeared at Wyong Local Court on Friday 20 May 2016. The men were again refused bail and are due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 17 July 2016.

Inquiries are continuing in relation to the investigation.

Traffic and Highway Patrol officers are targeting risky driver behaviour at level crossings in support of a campaign in south west NSW with a particular focus the Upper Hunter.

The enforcement starts today (Monday 23 May 2016) and runs until 28 May 2016.

This is part of an ongoing series of safety campaigns relating to level crossings, and is a joint initiative by the NSW Police Force and Transport for NSW.

The aim of these campaigns is to reduce the number of collisions on the state’s 1400 public-level crossings. Between 2001 and 2015, there were 122 collisions involving trains and road vehicles at level crossings throughout the state.

Further, research by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) indicates there can be up to 10 ‘near hit’ incidents involving trains and a motor vehicle, pedestrian or bicycle riders every month.

As part of the operation, officers will be on the look-out for dangerous motorist behaviour such as ignoring signs, speeding near level crossings and illegally using a mobile phone rather than concentrating on the level crossing.

In 2015, NSW Police issued 470 penalty notices for level-crossing offences, and this figure has been trending upwards for four years.

“Even with the inherent dangers involved, we still see a disappointing number of drivers ignoring safety warnings and controls at NSW level crossings,” campaign coordinator Senior Sergeant Mick Timms, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said.

“These campaigns remind drivers to take extreme care at level crossings and not become complacent, as a single moment of distraction or recklessness could cost them their life,” Senior Sergeant Timms said.

A man has been charged with alleged drug offences following investigations into a fire at a Lake Macquarie industrial site last week.

Shortly after midday on Friday (20 May 2016), emergency services were called to an industrial site on Kalaroo Road, Redhead, following reports of a fire.

On arrival Fire & Rescue NSW crews extinguished the blaze and uncovered an alleged hydroponic set-up.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command searched the premises and allegedly located 38 cannabis plants, more than 8kg of cannabis leaf and more than $35,000 in cash.

All items were seized for forensic examination and a crime scene was established.

Following investigations, a 52-year-old man attended Belmont Police Station yesterday (Sunday 22 May 2016) and was arrested.

He was charged with deal in proceeds of crime, supply prohibited drug, cultivate prohibited plant and possession of prohibited drug.

The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 29 June 2016.

Investigations are continuing.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash in the Hunter Valley yesterday.

Just before 10pm (Saturday 21 May 2016), emergency services were called to the Golden Highway, about 3km north of Jerry Plains after a Holden Commodore was found crashed into a power pole.

Initial investigations suggest that the vehicle left the roadway and crashed causing fatal injuries to the 27-year-old male driver.

A crime scene was established and officers from Central Hunter Local Area Command will be preparing a report for the information of the Coroner.

Police have seized drugs and cash following a fire in Lake Macquarie yesterday.

Shortly after midday, (Friday 20 May 2016), emergency services were called to an industrial site on Kalaroo Road, Redhead, following reports of a fire.

Upon arrival Fire & Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze and uncovered a hydroponic set up.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command searched the premises and allegedly located 38 cannabis plants, more than 8kg of cannabis leaf and more than $35,000 in cash.

All items were seized and will undergo forensic examination.

Police established a crime scene and commenced an investigation.

Inquiries into the incident are continuing, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.