‘One every three minutes’: Cops crack down on Sydney’s worst DV abusers

Police are called to a domestic violence incident once every three minutes in NSW.

General duties officers, who spend much of their careers responding to domestic violence, report fatigue and frustration at the cycle of violence Operation Amarok is trying to interrupt.

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon wants to treat perpetrators of domestic violence as seriously as organised criminals or terror threats.Credit: Steven Siewert

During the Amarok operation last week, two constables were called to Wentworth Point just after midnight on Wednesday, following reports of a man and woman arguing.

At the scene, police realised a woman had jumped into the dark water of the Parramatta River to escape her 33-year-old partner as he assaulted her – and she could not swim to shore.

One of the constables swam into the water and managed to haul the woman back to safety before she was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Her 33-year-old partner was arrested and charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, choking and stalking/intimidation.

The man was refused bail until next May.

Five hours later, at Yagoona, Amarok’s high-risk squad intercepted a bus as it drove down the Hume Highway.

The officers boarded the bus and pulled a 23-year-old tradie off – he was wanted for two domestic violence warrants and had been avoiding attempts to track him down.

The Herald was there as the officers swept through Blacktown, conducting compliance checks against known abusers on Wednesday.

On Bruce Street, police allegedly found a 39-year-old man hiding under a blanket in a bedroom – he had been banned from being in the home under an AVO, and was arrested.

A woman is arrested for breaching an AVO by the Domestic Violence unit of Blacktown police station.Credit: Janie Barrett

Minutes later, on the same street, a 39-year-old woman was allegedly found hiding under a sheet on a balcony in breach of her own AVO.

Last Sunday, police went to a third Blacktown home after a man allegedly slammed a door on a woman’s leg. On Wednesday, Amarok returned to lay charges of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Domestic violence remains an “intractable” scourge police forces across the world had struggled to reduce, Lanyon said. Much focus has been put on supporting victims through police and other responsible services.

But Amarok, which Lanyon established in 2023 with Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, was designed to treat perpetrators of domestic violence as seriously as organised criminals or terror threats.

So far, 6600 offenders have been arrested; 13,500 charges laid; and 1400 firearm bans handed out.

Some numbers deeply concern police: Amarok has detected more than 2400 breaches of AVOs and recovered 658 guns and a further 389 weapons from the most dangerous targets.

“It shows, not only that those people provide the greatest threat to their victims, but it also shows that our intelligence-based operations are targeting the right people,” Lanyon said.

“These offenders that put fear in their victims, use power over their victims, they feel far less power when the police attend.

“They know exactly why we’re there. They know that we’re going to take action against them.”

Domestic and Family Violence spokesman, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna, urged anyone experiencing domestic violence to come forward and report to police.

“Domestic and family violence is unacceptable, and it has no place in our communities,” he said.

“We urge anyone experiencing or witnessing domestic and family violence to come forward. Police will listen, investigate and take action.”