A man has been charged after allegedly indecently assaulting a young girl on a bus near Charlestown earlier this week.

About 3.45pm on Wednesday (4 May 2016), a man got on a bus at Frederick Street, Charlestown and sat down next to a 6-year-old girl.

He allegedly spoke to the girl before indecently assaulting her. He got off the bus a short time later at Gateshead.

The girl continued on her journey and reported the matter to her mother, who in turn contacted police.

About 10.20am today (Saturday 7 May 2016), following investigations, officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command arrested a 48-year-old man in Charlestown.

He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with aggravated indecent assault.

He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on 22 June 2016.

Protestors are being informed that unlawful or dangerous behaviour will not be tolerated during planned demonstrations this weekend.

Police are aware that a group is planning a protest on land and water at Newcastle in the lead up to and on Sunday 8 May 2016.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command and the Marine Area Command have been liaising with relevant agencies about the protest.

Newcastle Local Area Commander Superintendent John Gralton said police have received formal notification of the group’s intent to hold the protest.

“We have commenced planning a police operation to ensure the demonstration is carried out lawfully and peacefully.”

“Police will be focussed on working to minimise the impact of any possible demonstration on the wider community.

“We recognise and support the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly in a safe environment. We also have to ensure members of the public can go about their normal everyday activities without unnecessary impact,” Supt Gralton said.

Supt Gralton added that police will not tolerate unlawful behaviour or any action that risks the safety of others.

“This includes protestors who endanger their own safety. Anyone who breaks the law will be dealt with accordingly,” Supt Gralton said.

The police operation will include officers from the Newcastle Local Area Command, Marine Area Command, Operations Support Group, Airwing and Police Rescue.

A man will appear in court tomorrow after police charged him with numerous break and enter offences, escaping police custody and breach of bail.

Police from Central Hunter Local Area Command have been investigating a number of break-ins at commercial premises within the Maitland CBD over the last week.

Investigators have been following several lines of inquiry into the incidents.

Earlier today (Wednesday 4 May 2016), a 29-year-old man was arrested in Maitland CBD by investigators from Central Hunter Local Area Command.

The man was handcuffed but allegedly ran from police; however, he was recaptured after a short foot pursuit.

He was taken to Maitland Police Station and later charged with 13 counts of break and enter, escape police custody and breach of bail.

The man was refused bail and is to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 5 May 2016).

Police are appealing for public assistance to identify an offender who broke into a woman’s home and committed a lewd act in Newcastle.

About 5am on Tuesday 3 May 2016, a 52-year-old woman was in her home on Woodstock Street, Mayfield, when a male person entered her home.

The man entered the victim’s bedroom, at which time she woke up and sighted him..

The victim got up and followed the man to a veranda where he performed lewd acts towards her, before leaving the premises.

The man is described as being male, early 30’s, Caucasian, slim build with short brown hair.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, Newcastle Police Station on 02349 29099 or Waratah Police Station on 0249 266599.

Police have released an image of a car in a renewed appeal for information after a man was shot near Lake Macquarie earlier this year.

About 6.40am on Monday 29 February 2016, police and emergency services were called to Stratton Street, Edgeworth, following reports of a shooting.

On arrival, officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command located a 30-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital. He has since been released.

A crime scene was established and an investigation commenced.

Investigators from Lake Macquarie Detectives formed Strike Force Gumbend to investigate the incident.

Following recent investigations; police have released an image of silver Commodore station wagon, which is similar to a car that was sighted in the area at the time of the incident.

Investigators are hoping that the release of the image will help jog someone’s memory of the incident and are appealing anyone with information to come forward.

A man will appear in court later this month after a service station employee was allegedly hit by a car at Charlestown last month.

Police allege a man went into a service station in Charlestown on Friday 22 April 2016, and purchased fuel without paying for it.

As the vehicle was attempting to leave, a 28-year-old service station employee attempted to block the car’s path.

During the incident, the car came into contact with the employee before leaving the area; however, the employee was not seriously injured.

After an investigation by police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command, a 42-year-old man was arrested yesterday (Tuesday 3 May 2016). .

He has been charged with

• Assault

• Stealing from a dwelling

• Stealing from a retail store (two counts)

• Fraud, and

• Driving with an obscured number plate.

The man was granted conditional bail and will appear in Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 25 May 2016.

A probationary member of the Rural Fire Service has been charged after allegedly starting bushfires in the state’s Hunter Region.

Strike Force Billett was established by the Property Crime Squad’s Arson Unit to investigate more than 100 bushfires in the Cessnock area between August 2015 and April 2016.

As a result of their inquiries, a 20-year-old man was arrested at a fire at Lochinvar about 2pm yesterday (Thursday 28 April 2016).

Following a search of the man’s vehicle, investigators also located and seized accelerants and a number of mobile phones.

The man, who is a probationary member of the Rural Fire Service, was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with five counts of cause fire and be reckless to its spread, and trespass.

He has been refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Friday 29 April 2016).

A man has been charged over an alleged assault at Warners Bay.

Emergency services were called to John Street about 8pm (Monday 25 April 2016), where they found a man unconscious.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended and were told the 46-year-old man was assaulted after leaving a nearby hotel.

He was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he remains with serious head injuries.

Following inquiries, a 36-year-old man was arrested at a home in Belmont this afternoon (Thursday 28 April 2016).

The man was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with recklessly cause grievous bodily harm.

He was given conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on 25 May 2016.

A teenager has died after being struck by a car at Warners Bay earlier this week.

The 15-year-old girl was crossing Hillsborough Road just before 5pm on Tuesday (26 April 2016), when she was hit by a Ford Laser.

The girl was taken to John Hunter Hospital where she died this afternoon (Thursday 28 April 2016).

The driver of the car, a 22-year-old woman, wasn’t injured.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command continue to investigate the incident and will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Police have conducted a three day shoplifting operation in Newcastle which has resulted in over 20 people allegedly being detected for the offence.

On Thursday 21 April, Tuesday 26 April, and Wednesday 27 April 2016, police conducted the operation at a shopping centre in Kotara, as well as two supermarkets in Waratah, after businesses reported consistent high volume losses as a result of shoplifting.

The operation involved police from Newcastle City Local Area Command, as well as store Loss Prevention Officers.

As a result of the operation police charged three people for shoplifting, and issued nine Criminal Infringement Notices (CINs) for shoplifting.

Police also dealt with six juveniles under the Young Offenders Act for shoplifting offences, and issued three on the spot cautions for minor theft.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command will continue to work with local businesses to reduce the instances of shoplifting and detect and prosecute those committing the offence.