A man was found carrying five knives in one of Dubbo's main streets during a major police operation last week. Police seized more than 100 knives in total and charged more than 200 people during Operation Foil, a high visibility statewide operation targeting violent offenders, knife crime and the possession of weapons in public places. The operation ran from 1pm Thursday, 25 September to 1.30am on Saturday, 27 September and deployed more than 600 officers across metropolitan and regional areas of NSW. During the operation police seized 127 weapons including knives, firearms and ammunition, made 258 drug detections, and charged 204 people with 408 offences. Police attempted to stop a 32-year-old man who was wanted on an outstanding warrant, in Brisbane Street in Dubbo about 7pm last Thursday. He was arrested following a short foot pursuit. Officers searched the man and allegedly found five knives in his possession. He was taken to Dubbo Police Station where he was charged with five counts of custody of knife in a public place. He appeared before Bail Division Court 4 on Friday and was refused bail to appear before Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday, 1 October. In the lead up to Operation Foil, Youth Command ran Operation Pivot throughout the state, which is a prevention, early intervention and diversionary focused operation aimed at young people aged 10 to 17. Between Monday to Friday, 15-26 September, Operation Pivot completed the following: • 217 secondary school visits delivering anti violence presentations. • 12,670 students engaged through education and outreach events. • 174 welfare and engagement visits with at-risk youth. • 146 high visibility patrols of youth crime hotspots.
