Police radio transmissions will soon be encrypted in parts of the state’s north under new arrangements aimed at improving officer safety in the region.

The encryption process, which is expected to go-live mid-September, will affect digital radio across Central Hunter, Hunter Valley, Port Stephens and Manning Great Lakes Local Area Commands.

This follows the successful encryption of police digital radios across all commands in the Sydney metropolitan region, Newcastle and Wollongong seven years ago.

Northern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Jeff Loy, said the strategy represents an important step forward in ensuring the safety of police.

“Criminals will no longer be able to listen in on police radio transmissions to track emergency responses, which means we’re eliminating a significant risk to officer safety,” Assistant Commissioner Loy said.

“Policing can be a highly challenging and dangerous job and we’ll continue to develop and implement strategies that make their role as safe as possible.

“Encrypting radio transmissions not only means protecting our officers but also helping them solve and prevent crime,” Assistant Commissioner Loy said.

The change will also affect local media organisations as they’ll no longer have access to monitor police radio via scanners in newsrooms and vehicles.

“We will continue to assist media in the vital role they play in communicating information to the public that helps tackle crime,” Assistant Commissioner Loy said.

“To maintain this connection, we’ve developed the Police External Agencies Transfer System (PEATS), an internet feed that’s proved effective for a number of years in providing information on police activity, in place of radio transmissions.

“In addition, we’ll work with affected media organisations to ensure the new measures allow opportunities to attend operations of public significance,” Assistant Commissioner Loy said.

Police have charged a man following alleged predatory driving where a knife and pistol were used near Newcastle on the weekend.

About 3.30pm (Saturday 8 August 2015), two men, aged 25 and 41, entered a laneway near Joslin Street, Kotara, and met another man, aged 33.

An argument ensued and the 33-year-old allegedly threatened and chased the other two men with a knife. The two men ran away.

The older man entered his Toyota LandCruiser to get away and attempted to find the younger man.

The 33-year-old man with the knife allegedly entered his white Holden Commodore and followed the Toyota making threats to the driver.

A short time later the Holden allegedly drove onto the wrong side of Joslin Street into the path of a Nissan Navara, who then followed the Holden onto Bryson Avenue.

The Commodore then allegedly collided with the rear of the Toyota, before the 33-year-old stopped the car and approached the driver of the Nissan, a 27-year-old man.

The Holden driver then allegedly pointed a black pistol at the driver of the Nissan and his two passengers while making threats.

The 27-year-old drove the Nissan away from the location and police were called.

Officers from Newcastle Local Area Command attended the location and commenced a search for the Commodore driver, but were unable to locate him. No one was injured during the incident.

An investigation was commenced and today at 11am (Tuesday 11 August 2015), a 33-year-old man attended Toronto Police Station and was arrested.

He was charged with use offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence, affray, two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm and predatory driving.

The man was refused bail and appeared at Toronto Local Court today. He remains in custody to reappear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 24 September 2015.

A man will face court following an alleged domestic-related break-in near Newcastle today.

About 4.30am (Sunday 9 August 2015), a man allegedly smashed a window to gain entry into his former partner’s unit on Howe Street, Lambton.

A male friend of the resident was inside the unit at the time and became involved in a scuffle with the man, who was armed with a knife.

The friend of the resident was able to apprehend the man and contact police.

The male friend suffered a small laceration across his back but declined medical treatment.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended and arrested a 34-year-old man at the scene.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with aggravated break and enter with intent whilst armed.

The man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Monday 10 August 2015).

An off-duty police officer has been charged with a drink-driving offence.

Shortly after 11pm yesterday (Friday 7 August 2015), officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle on the Pacific Highway, Charlestown, and subjected the driver to a random breath test.

The male driver was arrested after returning a positive roadside breath test.

He was taken to Charlestown Police Station, where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.063.

The officer, who is attached to Northern Region, was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for low-range PCA.

He is due to appear at the Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 2 September 2015.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding an aggravated break-in at a home at Cooks Hill earlier today.

About 3am (Thursday 6 August 2015), a 75-year-old man was at his Tooke Street home with his 68-year-old wife.

The man heard a noise at the rear glass sliding door and went to investigate.

He walked into the back room of the premises and saw a man attempting to force entry.

The offender was unsuccessful and was seen to walk around the front of the home and force entry through the front door.

He confronted the two occupants in the hallway of the home and demanded their wallets while threatening them with a screwdriver.

He walked into the couple’s bedroom and stole a mobile phone and a wallet before running from the premises.

A handbag belonging to the 68-year-old woman was located in the driveway.

Police from Newcastle Local Area Command attended the home and an investigation was commenced.

The man has been described as Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander in appearance, 20-30-years-old with a thin build and average height. At the time of the incident he was wearing a light grey coloured jacket with the hood over his head,

Neither occupant was injured during the break-in, and police are now appealing for anyone with information to contact them at Newcastle Police Station on (02)4929 0999, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police seized prohibited drugs and an electronic stun device disguised as a mobile phone during a search of a home in Windale today.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command executed the search warrant in Myall Street about 10.30am (Wednesday 5 August 2015).

During the search, police seized an electronic stun device disguised as a mobile phone, along with drug paraphernalia.

Officers also searched a 26-year-old man who lives at the residence, during which they allegedly located an amount of methylamphetmine (“Ice”) inside his shoe.

Police arrested the man and took him to Charlestown Police Station, where he was charged with possess drug, possess prohibited weapon, and operate drug house.

He was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 6 August 2015).

Also located inside the premises was a 17-year-old male. He was arrested and charged in relation to five outstanding warrants.

He will appear before a children’s court tomorrow.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command are appealing for information to help locate a woman wanted by virtue of outstanding warrants.

Melissa Hardy, 27, currently has two outstanding warrants for her arrest, for stealing and breach of a good-behaviour bond.

She’s been known to reside in the Mayfield and Hamilton South areas.

Melissa Hardy is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 160 to 165cm tall, 50 to 55kg in weight, with a medium build, brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information about Melissa Hardy’s whereabouts should contact Newcastle Police on 0249 290999 or Crime Stoppers.

A 44-year-old man has been charged with assault causing death after a man died near Newcastle yesterday.

Around 3pm (Tuesday 4 August 2015), emergency services were called to an industrial site on Old Maitland Road at Sandgate where they found a 45-year-old man unconscious.

The 45-year-old was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended and were told two men had been involved in an argument following a minor collision between a truck and a forklift.

A 44-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Waratah Police Station where he was later charged with assault causing death.

Bail refused, he is scheduled to appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 5 August 2015).

A man is assisting with inquiries following the death of a man at Newcastle.

Emergency services were called to an industrial site on Old Maitland Road at Sandgate just before 3pm (Tuesday 4 August 2015), where they found a man unconscious.

The 45-year-old died at the scene.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended and were told two men became involved in an argument following a minor collision between truck and a forklift.

A 44-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Waratah Police Station where he is assisting with inquiries.

Police are also speaking with witnesses.

Police have charged a second person after officers of the Australian Border Force (ABF) allegedly found more than $60,000 of undeclared currency in baggage.

A 30-year-old woman and man were spoken to at the Newcastle Airport about 10am on Tuesday 28 July 2015.

They were on a twin-engine aircraft that had been chartered to fly from Melbourne to Noumea via Newcastle. The man is believed to be a high-ranking member of the Comancheros OMCG.

When the plane arrived in Newcastle for refuelling, ABF officers stopped the man and woman searching their baggage.

Inside their bags and suitcases, ABF officers allegedly found more than $60,000 in undeclared Australian currency.

Police from Port Stephens Local Area Command attended and 30-year-old man was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.

The woman was spoken to and released pending further inquiries.

On Wednesday 29 July 2015, the woman was issued with a Future Service Court Attendance Notice for deal with property suspected proceeds of crime and move $10,000 or more out of Australia without a report.

She will appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 14 September 2015.

On Tuesday 28 July 2015, the man was charged with deal with property suspected proceeds of crime; and move $10,000 or more out of Australia without a report and was bail refused.

He appeared in Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 4 August 2015) and was bail refused to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 14 September 2015.