The New South Wales (NSW) Police have initiated a high-visibility operation named “Operation Soteria” aimed at addressing the escalating youth crime rates in Western and Northern NSW. Senior police officials announced the new initiative in Dubbo, highlighting that a dedicated unit of 60 officers will focus on a small group of repeat offenders, who are believed to be responsible for approximately 90 per cent of youth-related crimes in the state.
NSW Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos stated that the operation is designed to send a strong message to young offenders—warning that law enforcement will actively pursue and apprehend them. The targeted regional zones for this operation include Moree, Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange, Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Taree, and Newcastle.
The operation’s strategy includes identifying and arresting recidivist ring leaders while also providing diversionary options for first-time young offenders. Additionally, a surge operation will involve deploying 20 extra officers, complemented by police helicopters and mobile units, to intensify their efforts.
Another crucial aspect of Operation Soteria is addressing the trend of youth offenders recording and sharing their criminal activities on social media. Police will utilise command hubs to monitor and respond to such “posting and boasting” in real-time, working closely with social media platforms and the E-Safety Commissioner to swiftly remove any content that promotes criminal behaviour. Pisanos emphasised that participating in such behaviour will not gain young offenders notoriety, but rather lead to arrest.
Furthermore, the operation also prioritises prevention by aiming to redirect at-risk youth away from crime through suitable youth services. Pisanos remarked on the dual focus of the initiative: to detain the main offenders while diverting peripheral participants from a path of criminality.
Since the introduction of laws curbing the “posting and boasting” of criminal acts, there have been 53 charges laid against individuals, with 27 of these being minors under the age of 16. The overarching goal of Operation Soteria remains not only to tackle immediate crime but to foster long-term positive change within communities by steering youths towards constructive pathways instead of engaging in criminal activities.