Police are appealing for public assistance after a girl was approached in Mayfield yesterday.

About 3.30pm (Tuesday 15 March 2016), a 12-year-old girl was walking along Sunderland Street when a white car stopped nearby.

Police have been told the male passenger got out and walked away. The male driver got out, approached the girl and yelled out to her.

The girl turned around and ran away, meeting up with her brother in the next street.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation into the incident.

Police are urging any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Police will address the media after a woman was arrested of a woman over the disappearance of Leonie Astra Hutchinson in the Hunter Valley 15 years ago.

Investigators believe Leonie was 16 months old when she disappeared from her home in Scone sometime around January 2001.

As a result of on-going inquiries, detectives attached to Strike Force Kanuna, arrested a 43-year-old woman at her home, in Evans Head, on the Far North Coast, about 7.30am today (Wednesday 16 March 2016).

The woman was taken to Lismore Police Station where she is expected to be charged with one count of murder.

A man has died after a car and bus collided in the Lake Macquarie region.
About 3.40pm (Tuesday 15 March 2016) police were called to Freemans Drive, Cooranbong, after a car collided with a school bus with about 30 school children on board.

The male driver of the car died at the scene. He was the sole occupant. He is not yet identified.

None of the school children were injured. They are being moved onto another bus to be conveyed from the scene.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command are conducting inquiries at the scene.

Freemans Drive is closed in both directions, diversions are in place.

No further information is available at this stage.

A funeral service will be held tomorrow (Monday 14 March 2016) for Sergeant Geoffrey Richardson at Christ Church Cathedral in Church Street, Newcastle.

The service will begin at 11.30am and is expected to run for about one hour.

This will be a full police funeral, including a valedictory read by NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, and a marching escort and roadside guard of honour after the church service.

The valedictory will be sent to media via the normal Police Media Unit channels after the service. Commissioner Scipione will also address media at the conclusion of all formalities.

The service will be broadcast via speakers outside the cathedral.

A boy has been charged with graffiti offences and breaching bail after being caught in the rail corridor in the Lake Macquarie area.

About 6pm on Wednesday 9 March 2016, a group of young persons boarded a southbound train at Adamstown Railway Station.

They got off the train at Booragul Railway Station where they were observed on footage to graffiti a foot bridge, pylons and electrical boxes within the rail corridor, before fleeing the area.

Officers from Police Transport Command attended and conducted inquiries.

About 11.10am today (Friday 11 March 2016) officers attended a home in Fennell Bay and arrested a 14-year-old boy.

He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with intentionally mark premises without consent, enter running lines, and breach of bail.

He was refused bail to appear at a Children’s Court on 21 March 2016.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested and charged in relation to an aggravated break and enter and indecent assault near Newcastle earlier this year.

Around 11.30pm on Friday 15 January 2016, three males forced their way into a home in Carandotta Street, Mayfield, where they held the property’s 36-year-old resident against her will.

The trio, one of whom was armed with a knife, ransacked the home and stole a number of items before fleeing the scene. During the break in, one of the males allegedly indecently assaulted the woman.

Police were called and attended the location, before an investigation into the matter commenced.

Shortly before 1am the following Sunday (17 January 2016), police arrested two 17-year-old males who were standing near an abandoned vehicle in a laneway off Maitland Road, Mayfield.

The duo were taken to Waratah Police Station and each charged with numerous offences, including:

– Aggravated break and enter while armed;

– Take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage;

– Aggravated break and enter – deprive liberty; and;

– Aggravated break and enter in company.

Both teens are currently before the courts.

Following the arrests of the juveniles, detectives continued their inquiries and yesterday (Wednesday 9 March 2016) a 23-year-old man was extradited from Hervey Bay, Queensland, to Newcastle where he was formally arrested and charged with:

– Aggravated break and enter in company;

– Take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage; and,

– Aggravated indecent assault.

He was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 10 March 2016).

A doctor has been charged with sexual and indecent assault offences allegedly committed upon patients in Newcastle.

Police will allege between 2003 and 2012, six female patients of the specialist clinic on Watt Street were sexually and indecently assaulted by a male doctor during consultations.

It’s further alleged one of the women also had an act of indecency performed on her.

The women, who are aged between 24 and 55, reported the matters to police.

Strike Force Yatala was formed to investigate the incidents.

Officers attached to Strike Force Yatala executed a search warrant at the Watt Street clinic last Wednesday (2 March 2016), where they seized a computer and a number of documents.

As a result of further inquiries, a 63-year-old man was arrested at 10am today (Thursday 10 March 2016) at Newcastle Police Station.

He was charged with two counts of sexual assault, four counts of indecent assault, and act of indecency.

The man was granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 7 April 2016.

Meanwhile, inquiries are continuing and police are encouraging anyone who feels they may be able to assist with the ongoing investigation to contact Newcastle Detectives.

Police are appealing for information after they received reports of a suspicious man travelling on a New Lambton bus yesterday morning.

About 8.30am (Tuesday 8 March 2016), a seven-year-old girl boarded a bus on Bridges Road, New Lambton, as she made her way to school.

The girl found a seat next to a man and he attempted to make conversation with her.

The girl became uncomfortable with a number of comments the man made and left the bus at Regent Street.

Her brother later attended the local police station with her, where she reported the matter.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Local Area Command are continuing inquiries into the incident and would now like to speak to a man who may be able to assist in the investigation.

The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 50s, with a grey beard and of a slim build. He was last seen wearing an orange high-visibility vest and was carrying a black Woolworths environmental bag.

Anyone who knows the man’s identity, or has information that can assist police, is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/

Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Meanwhile, the incident has again prompted police to encourage parents to discuss the ‘Safe People, Safe Places’ messages with their children, including:

* Avoid walking on your own and instead walk with other family members, friends or an adult they know when going to and from school;

* Walk near busier roads and streets, or use paths where there are lots of other people;

* Make sure your parents or another adult you know knows where you are at all times;

* Always walk straight home or to the place you are walking to;

* Know where safe places are – a shop, service station, police station, library or school. If you are ever frightened, you should go to one of these places and ask them to call the police;

* Learn about safe adults you can look for and talk to if you need help – police officers, teachers at school, adults you know and trust;

* Don’t talk to people you don’t know and never get into a car with someone you don’t know. If a car stops on the side of the road and you don’t know the person inside, do not stop; and

* If you are scared and can use a phone, call 000 and tell them you are scared.