logo
NSW Police super taskforce to tackle escalating gang violence in Sydney

NSW Police super taskforce to tackle escalating gang violence in Sydney

News.com.au27-05-2025

A new police super taskforce will combat escalating gang violence across Sydney after two men were shot in broad daylight in the city's west.
The two men were rushed to hospital after they were found in a car in Parramatta on Sunday afternoon.
Taskforce Falcon will be led by the State Crime Command and will investigate shootings, arson attacks and kidnappings dating back to December 2024.
The taskforce will absorb 13 underworld strike forces set up to investigate gang violence.
NSW Police Deputy Police Commissioner said Taskforce Falcon would be manned by 150 officers as well as an additional 90 staff, including a 'proactive' arm.
'(That) will be involved in suppression activities to ensure that recent violence that we've seen on the streets of Sydney over the past six months does not escalate into anything more horrific,' Mr Hudson said.
The officers will be pooled from across the force, including the specialist squads attached to the State Crime Command, as well as the NSW Crime Commission, and will be overseen by Detective Superintendent Jason Box.
NSW Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley MP said the 'recent violence on our streets is horrific' and vowed to apprehend those responsible.
'We won't tolerate these lawless thugs playing out their vendettas in our communities,' she said.
'When innocent people get caught up in them and are made to suffer it's sickening and barbaric.
'We all have the right to live our lives in our communities safe from these brazen criminals.
'Today we announce NSWPF are standing up Taskforce Falcon to deal with these murderous swine.
'The message is crystal clear. To those contemplating taking part in this vicious criminality, our police are coming to get you.
'You can look forward to spending a large chunk of your life in a small cell.'
The taskforce will bring together, among other investigations, probes into six separate public place shootings, mostly in western Sydney.
It will also oversee investigations into the alleged shooting murder of a 31-year-old in Canley Heights in December 2024 as well as the alleged shooting murder of a 23-year-old man in Condell Park on May 19, 2025.
Mr Hudson said part of the reason for establishing the taskforce was because of links already established by investigators between some of the alleged incidents.
The taskforce follows similar models used during Taskforce Magnus and Taskforce Erebus, which Mr Hudson said had suppressed previous 'conflicts within organised crime'.
'Since 2021, we have had 25 organised crime murders in the state of NSW. Twenty of those have been solved through investigations and the other five ongoing,' he said.
'Some of those investigations have involved the arrest of up to 30 people, not just because of committing the murder but people orchestrating the commissions of that murder.
Mr Hudson said police would 'leave no stone unturned' in the pursuit of people involved in organised crime incidents 'no matter whatever it involves'.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Prosecution begins cross examination of Erin Patterson in mushroom murder trial
Prosecution begins cross examination of Erin Patterson in mushroom murder trial

SBS Australia

time7 hours ago

  • SBS Australia

Prosecution begins cross examination of Erin Patterson in mushroom murder trial

Prosecution begins cross examination of Erin Patterson in mushroom murder trial Published 5 June 2025, 7:53 am Accused triple-murderer Erin Patterson has denied intentionally putting death cap mushrooms into a beef wellington dish that left three lunch guests dead and one gravely ill. Under prosecution questioning, she was accused of lying about a cancer diagnosis because she anticipated her in-laws wouldn't survive the meal, and therefore be able to hold her accountable.

Country Road boss quits amid tanking sales, internal culture issues
Country Road boss quits amid tanking sales, internal culture issues

News.com.au

time7 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Country Road boss quits amid tanking sales, internal culture issues

The boss of Country Road has quit a year after a scandal concerning the behaviour of executives and a steep downturn in sales. Chief executive Raju Vuppalapati announced on Wednesday he would depart, following four years in charge. Country Road is owned by South African conglomerate Woolworths Holdings, which also owns Mimco, Witchery, Politix and Trenery. 'It has been a privilege to lead our passionate team and iconic brands. I know that I am leaving Country Road Group well positioned to pursue its next chapter with compelling strategies, a strengthened culture and clear pathway to reignite profitable growth,' Mr Vuppalapati said in a statement. Audio of a tense staff meeting in 2024 was obtained by The Australian, where Mr Vuppalapati was heckled by staff over sexual harassment and bullying allegations within the company. Woolworths Holdings chief executive Roy Bagattini said Mr Vuppalapati was leaving the business in a 'foundationally much stronger position'. 'Raju and I have had ongoing discussions regarding his intent to leave CRG to pursue his personal interests,' he wrote. 'After thoughtful consideration, Raju has decided that now is the right time for him to do that.' Mr Vuppalapati will leave the company at the end of August or 'until such time as the new CEO is appointed'. Country Road called in a consulting firm to repair the company culture, two executives resigned and the Woolworths Holdings chief executive Roy Bagattini flew in from South Africa to the Melbourne offices to hear details of the allegations. Woolworths Holdings sold department store David Jones in 2022 for $120m, but retained ownership of the Country Road Group. The clothing business has been struggling to attract shoppers. Country Road's operating profit fell 70 per cent in the second half of 2024, following a 66 per cent dip in the 2023/24 financial year.

‘Very joyful celebration': Wedding pic of missing teen's flatmate emerges
‘Very joyful celebration': Wedding pic of missing teen's flatmate emerges

News.com.au

time8 hours ago

  • News.com.au

‘Very joyful celebration': Wedding pic of missing teen's flatmate emerges

A photograph of the flatmate of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop has revealed details of his past life, after police sensationally arrested and released him before later charging him with her murder. Pheobe, 17, was last seen being driven to Airport Dr in Bundaberg in a grey Hyundai ix35 hatchback on May 15. She was due to fly out of the Rum City to visit her boyfriend in Western Australia, but never made it onto her flight. The teenager's disappearance has been the subject of an extensive search and public appeal. She lived with two flat mates at a run-down property in Gin Gin – the same property Pheobe was last seen leaving from in the grey Hyundai. On Wednesday police confirmed Mr Wood, 34, had been arrested and was questioned over Pheobe's disappearance. By Thursday morning, he was released with no charges laid. However, on Thursday night police charged Mr Wood and his partner Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged with a count each of murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse. Police on Wednesday also announced they had suspended the physical search for Pheobe. 'Detectives are continuing to run through several lines of inquiry as investigations continue, and will conduct physical searches when required,' a Queensland Police spokesman said. 'Police are continuing to appeal for any information about Pheobe's whereabouts. 'For investigative reasons, there is no further information available.' Separately, a photo depicting Mr Wood getting married to another woman emerged. A photograph and accompanying newsletter post from the St Patrick's Parish in Emerald – in Queensland's Central Highlands region – depicts Mr Wood getting married on July 10, 2021 in a 'very joyful celebration led by Fr Yon at St Patrick's Church'. Mr Wood was thrust back into the public spotlight after he told The Daily Mail Pheobe had been 'complaining' and having 'emotional outbursts' on the day they left to drop her off at the airport. Mr Wood said the teenager was stressing about not wearing makeup and missing her flight. He asked his partner Tanika Bromley to pull over about 1km from the airport to give Pheobe 'five minutes, give her own space to do what she needed to do'. 'We walked to the end, it was maybe five minutes, maybe it was three minutes or maybe it was eight but that's about how long we were gone,' he told The Daily Mail. Mr Wood said when they returned, Pheobe and her bag were gone. He said the pair checked to see if she had made it to the airport, before checking the surrounding roads in case she 'walked off in another direction'. Mr Wood told the outlet he said this would have been the moment when CCTV footage picked up his car heading towards the Good Night Scrub National Park. He maintained he never hurt Pheobe and assumed she had boarded her flight. 'Out of hand': Inside missing girl's flat New images of the Gin Gin property where Pheobe was residing with Mr Wood and Ms Bromley reveal the squalor she was living in. The home and grey Hyundai at the centre of the police investigation – which is owned by Ms Bromley – were both declared crime scenes on May 21. The quiet street was mostly deserted on Thursday, save for several media crews. Pictures obtained by NewsWire revealthe front lawn still strewn with rubbish weeks after police cordoned off the property. Part of the police tape has since fallen away. A bus is parked outside of the house – carrying a crudely-drawn sign saying 'Let it Ride' – with its door open but most of its curtains drawn shut. Photos inside capture junk piled up to the roof. One woman said junk accumulating at the property had gotten 'out of hand' in recent months. People in town had complained on local Facebook groups about dogs at the Millen St house barking and howling more than usual. 'Each week there was more junk coming out,' the woman said of the house, clarifying she never felt unsafe close by. A computer chair is seen blocking the doors while the shelves, sides and floors are littered with containers, eskies, cooking lids and rubbish. Some are piled into a cabinet which has been crammed onto the bus. Mother's plea as search suspended Police and State Emergency Service (SES) crews spent days combing through the Gin Gin home and Good Night Scrub National Park during their search for Pheobe. Physical searches were called off on Wednesday. 'There are currently no physical searches for Pheobe at this stage, however physical searches will happen as needed and as information is provided,' a Queensland Police spokesman told NewsWire. 'Investigations are ongoing and police are continuing to run out several lines of inquiry.' Kylie Johnson, Pheobe's mother, has spent days pleading for public assistance to help locate her daughter and for anyone with information to come forward to police. She issued an emotional plea earlier in the week saying she is 'starting day 20 with you still missing Pheobe'. 'I don't know if life will ever be the same again? I don't know if I will ever look at the world the same way that I did before May 15th,' Ms Johnson wrote. 'What I do know is that people have information on where you are Phee and we need that reported to police.' Ms Johnson has posted daily about the search for Pheobe, even pushing back against vicious comments from online trolls. 'My posts aren't public to defend myself or react to negative comments. In fact negative comments also draw conversations and that's what we as a family need to bring Phee home,' she posted last week. 'Hell I will take any conversation if it has my baby walking down our driveway or calling any of us. 'So please don't be mad at the trolls. They have a role to play just like the amazing people who honestly just want our Pheobe home.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store