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.