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.

A man and a woman have been charged after an alleged aggravated break and enter on the NSW Central Coast yesterday.

About 12pm (Thursday 19 May 2016), a 20-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were in their bedroom on Thomas Street, Wallsend, when an unknown man forced entry to the home.

Police will allege the man, armed with a knife and replica firearm, spoke to the occupants before leaving.

A short time later, the man returned with an unknown woman, and the pair forced entry into the home.

The intruders allegedly threatened the occupants, before taking a number of items including mobile phones, and a motor vehicle.

About 1.30pm, officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command stopped a vehicle on Blue Gun Road, Jesmond, and spoke to the female driver and male passenger, before searching them and the car.

During the search, police allegedly located and seized a replica pistol, machete and property believed to be stolen.

The man and woman were arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station and Newcastle Police Station respectively.

The 42-year-old man was charged with special aggravated break and enter, take and detain in company, threaten person with intent to commit serious indictable offence in company, malicious damage, take and drive conveyance and possess unauthorised pistol.

The 26-year-old woman was charged with special aggravated break and enter, take and detain in company, threaten person with intent to commit serious indictable offence in company, malicious damage, common assault and drive whilst disqualified.

Both were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 20 May 2016).

The man thought to be missing, after his yacht was found adrift and unattended on the state’s north on Tuesday, has been found, safe and well.

Police have been told a man came across the vessel named ‘FireFly’ on Tuesday (16 May 2016), off Samurai Beach, Port Stephens, and was unable to locate anyone board.

The man towed the yacht to deeper water and anchored it, before contacting Marine Rescue and Marine Area Command.

Yesterday, officers attached to the Marine Area Command and Port Stephens Water Police, with assistance from Volunteer Marine Rescue, Surf Lifesaving, Westpac Rescue Helicopter and local police covered areas from Nelson Bay to Stockton Beach.

The search continued at 8am this morning (Thursday 19 May 2016).

About 12.00pm today (Thursday 19 May 2016), a 48-year-old man attended Newcastle Police Station, to notify police he was safe and well after being alerted by reports in the media.

Officers from the Marine Area Command are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the boat being abandoned.

Police would like to thank the community and media for their assistance.

About 12.45pm today (Thursday 19 May 2016), police and emergency services attended Cessnock Road at Testers Hollow, about 5km north of Heddon Greta following reports of a crash.

On arrival, they found two cars – a blue Nissan Pulsar and a white Mitsubishi Magna – had collided head-on.

Both female drivers were trapped in their vehicles for a short time before being released by VRA rescue.

The 33-year-old female driver of the Mitsubishi and her 2-year-old son were assessed at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics and were found to be uninjured. She was breath-tested at the scene with a negative result.

The 21-year-old female driver of the Nissan was taken by NSW Ambulance Paramedics to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition with head injuries.

Police from Central Hunter Local Area Command have established a crime scene while they investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Cessnock Road is blocked in both directions and local traffic diversions are in place.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and visit www.livetraffic.com for more information, as the road is expected to be closed for sometime.