Category: Newcastle News

A police officer will face court next month following an investigation into an alleged neglect of duty.
In March 2020, an investigation was launched by Northern Region’s Professional Standards into the alleged mishandling of a report of a domestic violence-related incident.
Following extensive inquiries, investigators issued a Court Attendance Notice for neglect of duty to a 38-year-old female senior constable just after 3pm yesterday (Friday 4 September 2020).
The officer, who is attached to a command in the Northern Region, is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 15 October 2020.
The officer’s duty status is currently under review.

A man has been charged with high-range drink driving after allegedly crashing his car into a power pole at Bonnells Bay, in the Lake Macquarie area.
About 4.20pm (Wednesday 2 September 2020), emergency services were called to Princes Street, Bonnells Bay after receiving calls a car had crashed into the pole, bringing down live wires.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District spoke with the driver, a 36-year-old man, who allegedly threatened them.
Police restrained the man and conducted a roadside breath test, which provided a positive result.
The man was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station where he was subjected to a breath analysis which returned an alleged reading of 0.185.
The man was charged with high-range PCA, driver refuse to disclose identity, drive whilst licence suspended, and resist arrest.
He was released on strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 13 October 2020.

A man will face court today after an alleged unprovoked assault in the Hunter region.
About 8.40am yesterday (Thursday 3 September 2020), a 31-year-old woman was at a shopping complex in Pearson Street, Charlestown, when she was approached by an unknown man who allegedly pulled her hair until she fell to the ground.
It’s further alleged the man yelled at the woman, before he ran away.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended and commenced an investigation.
Following inquiries, police attended a motel on the Pacific Highway, Charlestown, about 10am the same day.
A 39-year-old man was arrested at the motel and taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with common assault and affray.
He was refused bail to appear at Belmont Local Court today (Friday 4 September 2020)

Detectives have charged a man over the alleged sexual assault of a young girl in the state’s Hunter region last year.
Last month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a young girl had been sexually abused by a man known to her.
Following inquiries, investigators arrested a 59-year-old man at a home in Beresfield just after 10am yesterday (Thursday 3 September 2020).
He was charged with three counts of have sexual intercourse with child (between 10 and 14 years), intentionally do sexual act with child (between 10 and 16 years) and two counts of intentionally sexually touch child (between 10 and 16 years).
Police will allege in court that the man sexually assaulted the girl – who was aged between 11 and 12 at the time – on multiple occasions last year.
The man was refused bail and appeared before Raymond Terrace Local Court yesterday (Thursday 3 September 2020), where he was formally refused bail to appear before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 28 October 2020.
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
 

Council voted unanimously to support a trial to extend the trading hours of restaurants in the city until midnight and to 2am for small bars, as proposed in the City of Newcastle’s After Dark Strategy adopted 2 years ago.
Twenty-seven small bars and restaurants have opted into the proposed trial as part of efforts to grow the night time economy and support the hospitality industry recovery from the impact of COVID-19 related restrictions.
Venues include wine bars such as Coal and Cedar, Basement on Market and Big Poppys, as well as iconic restaurants such as Scratchleys, the Edwards, Three Bears Kitchen and the Signal Box.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Newcastle Night-time Economy trial was a collaborative process involving both local and state governments that would allow for an evidence-based understanding of the community’s needs.
“City of Newcastle’s Newcastle After Dark strategy is our plan for creating a safe, vibrant and diverse night-time economy. The Strategy was unanimously endorsed by the Council in November 2018 and supports venues designated as low risk such as small bars to be exempt from current lock-out laws and permitted to trade until 2am.
“The After Dark strategy highlights that the growth of venue diversity is paramount to increasing the appeal of the Newcastle’s night-time economy to demographics who are currently not catered for.
“The trial will begin in October and will allow 27 low impact venues to open later and relax current drinking restrictions to provide a boost to the local hospitality, entertainment and creative sectors.”
“Newcastle’s night-time economy has undergone significant changes over the past 15 years. We acknowledge that for Newcastle to thrive as a diverse and vibrant City, our night-time economy must be strong.
“The hospitality and creative industries have also struggled in the wake of COVID-19 with job losses, income reduction and loss of revenue because of the impacts of Public Health Orders, restrictions to venue capacities and a general reluctance for people to attend public places.
“We hope to see a positive outcome from the trial for these industries through increased night-time economic development, cultural participation and activation in our City.”
Deputy Lord Mayor Cr Declan Clausen successfully moved a resolution to support an Independent inner-city residents’ representative member being appointed to the Committee for Night Time Jobs and Investment.
The Deputy Lord Mayor’s resolution will also see City of Newcastle write to the Minister for Customer Service, the Hon. Victor Dominello MP, requesting the Minister re-instate Newcastle based Liquor Licensing Compliance Officers, to both assist in overseeing proposed licensing regulatory changes, and to gather crucial data throughout the Newcastle Night Time Economy trial.
City of Newcastle together with the Liquor and Gaming NSW, the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, Newcastle Tourism Industry Group and the NSW Police have worked together to facilitate the trial relaxation of the current conditions for low risk venues.
Local restaurateur and owner of Scratchleys on the Wharf Neil Slater said the trial is a valuable opportunity to revitalise what the City has to offer after dark.
“These changes to the night-time economy are all part of a revitalised Newcastle precinct. The trial will allow for a more sophisticated Newcastle that has matured and is ready to take our place as one of the great cities of Australia,” Mr Slater said.
“We want to offer visitors and locals alike a truly wonderful city by day or night.”

Two people have been arrested following a pursuit through the Hunter region yesterday.
About 11.40am (Tuesday 1 September 2020), police were patrolling the Pacific Highway at Karuah when they saw a Mitsubishi Triton with false numberplates.
A pursuit was initiated and terminated a short time later due to the manner of driving.
The ute was again seen on Medowie Road and a further pursuit commenced. Road spikes were successfully deployed at Ferodale and the car hit a cement barrier before coming to a stop. Two people in the ute were arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.
Police will further allege that couple were involved in an incident on Sunday 30 August 2020 at Bingara where a police officer was injured after he was dragged by a moving vehicle while attempting to prevent the driver from leaving.
The officer fell heavily to the ground receiving head and shoulder injuries and was taken to Warialda Hospital for treatment.
A 24-year-old woman has been charged with multiple offences,
• Police pursuit (Skye’s Law) (two counts)
• Use unregistered vehicle (two counts)
• Use weapon to prevent lawful detention
• Use vehicle displaying misleading number plates (two counts)
• Use unregistered vehicle (two counts), and
• Use uninsured motor vehicle (two counts).
She has also been charged with three outstanding warrants.
The 27-year-old man has been charged with use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention.
They’ve been refused bail and are due to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Wednesday 2 September 2020).

A man and a woman have been charged after they allegedly assaulted and spat on several officers during an incident at Lake Macquarie yesterday.
About 2.10pm yesterday (Tuesday 1 September 2020), officers attached to the Northern Region Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team and Operation Utah attended a home at Whitebridge to speak with a 29-year-old-man, who was wanted on outstanding warrants.
Police located the man on the footpath and arrested him, allegedly locating a home-made baton concealed in his pants.
A short time later, a 27-year-old woman approached officers, who directed her to move on.
She refused to comply, before allegedly punching a male senior constable in the face. When a male constable came to his colleague’s aid, the woman allegedly struck that officer in the head.
The woman allegedly continued to resist arrest, spitting in the face of a second male senior constable before kicking the male constable in the legs.
Both the man and woman were eventually restrained and taken to Belmont Police Station.
The man was charged with three outstanding warrants, as well as possess offensive implement, resist officer in execution of duty, assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV) and contravene AVO.
He was refused bail to appear at Belmont Local Court today (Wednesday 2 September 2020).
The woman was charged with carry cutting implement, assault officer in execution of duty, assault officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm and resist officer in execution of duty.
She was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Friday 25 September 2020.

Police are investigating after an aggravated break and enter at Whitebridge overnight.
Police have been told a 26-year-old man was inside a home on Nicole Close about 8.40pm (Sunday 30 August 2020), when two men – armed with knives – forced entry to the home.
The pair – dressed in dark clothing with their faces covered – demanded cash and personal items before stealing the man’s white Holden Colorado, which was parked outside the home.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were called and have commenced an investigation.
Anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious between 8.30pm and 9pm last night, or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage are urged to contact police.
 

 
A teenager reporting missing from the Hunter region has been located safe and well.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District were notified when a 15-year-old boy left John Hunter Hospital yesterday (Monday 31 August 2020).
The teen has been located safe and well at a Sydney hospital overnight.
Police would like to thank the media and community for their assistance.

City of Newcastle is encouraging residents to register for its free flash flood alert service after July brought record-breaking rainfall and severe East Coast Lows.
July’s wet weather saw residents flock to the service to receive up-to-the-minute information, with a 41% increase in subscriptions between 25 July – the day before an East Coast Low dumped 107.6mm of rain at Nobbys weather station in three days – and mid-August. Subscriptions spiked from 3,337 to 4,711 across the eight zones.
The late July weather event triggered moderate flood warnings to be issued across four zones, encompassing suburbs such as Wickham, Hamilton, New Lambton, Jesmond and Stockton. Around 2,000 emails and text messages were sent to residents, as well as 474 pre-recorded messages to landlines.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it was the largest-scale alert distribution since the service was successfully trialled in Wallsend in 2017 and rolled out across the LGA in 2018.
“Due to our city’s topography, heavy rainfall can cause flash flooding in low-lying areas extremely quickly,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This is why our flash flood alert service is an important tool to help residents avoid hazardous areas and remind them to never walk or drive through fast-moving and unpredictable floodwaters, potentially preventing serious injury or worse.
“Anyone can register for free, but those who would most benefit include those who live, work, visit or own a business in Newcastle.”
The eight zones covered by the flash flood alert service are:

• Wallsend and Elermore Vale vicinity
• Jesmond, Birmingham Gardens and Callaghan
• Kotara and New Lambton vicinity
• Lambton, Hamilton, Islington, Broadmeadow and Mayfield
• Merewether, Junction, Cooks Hill and Newcastle West
• Carrington, Stockton, Maryville and Wickham
• Beresfield, Tarro, Hexham and Sandgate
• Stockton, Kooragang, Carrington and Wickham

You can register to receive alerts for multiple zones. Alerts are sent by SMS, email or recorded voice message to landline, and there are three levels: minor, moderate and major flood warning.
The alerts are activated through the Early Warning Network (EWN), which continuously monitors local rainfall gauges and records intensity and duration.
For more information, including how to register, visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/floodalert