
Police found a sheathed knife inside a man’s backpack during a one-day blitz in Albury. Photo: Murray River Police.
Murray River Police have seized knives during a daylong operation in Albury.
Operation Ares was a high-visibility police exercise whereby officers used handheld scanners – or electronic metal-detecting “wands” – to locate and seize knives in public places.
Murray River Police District officers conducted a handheld scanning operation in Albury CBD between 10 am and 10 pm on Friday (30 May).
As a result:
- Ninety-eight people were scanned.
- Four weapons and prohibited drugs were detected and seized.
- Four people were arrested.
- Six charges were laid, including a court attendance notice issued for possessing a prohibited drug and harassing police in the execution of their duty.
Notable incidents
• About 2:15 pm on Friday, officers were patrolling Dean Street, Albury, near the intersection of Macauley Street, when they stopped a 49-year-old man for a scan. Police allegedly found a knife inside a sheath in the man’s backpack. He was issued with a court attendance notice for having a knife in a public place. He is to appear at Albury Local Court on 18 June.
• About 10:55 am on Friday, officers attached to Murray River Police District were patrolling in a shopping plaza on Kiewa St, Albury, when a 45-year-old man was stopped for a scan. When the man allegedly became aggressive, he was issued with a move-on order. When he refused, he was arrested and removed from the building. He was issued with a court attendance notice for harassing a police officer in the execution of duty without actual bodily harm and will appear in Albury Local Court on 18 June.