OVER 829 PEOPLE CHARGED IN NORTH BRISBANE MAJOR POLICE OPERATION

The seventh deployment of Operation Whiskey Legion, a major police operation targeting crime, has concluded with 829 people charged on 2,107 offences with intelligence information used to target and saturate areas across North Brisbane.

Legion commenced its 10-day sweep across the North Brisbane District on June 19, with specialist police from Highway Patrol, Crime and Intelligence Command, Rail Squad, Water Police, Dog Squad and Crime Prevention joining forces with local police to target high-risk crime in the area.

The additional officers provided high police visibility with extra patrols in shopping precincts, at train and transport hubs and other public spaces across the districts.

In total, 681 adults were charged on 1,642 offences and 148 juveniles were charged on 465 offences in North Brisbane.

The charges include serious offences such as armed robbery, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, wilful damage to property, unlawful possession of a weapon and drug offences.

The seventh deployment of Legion has seen the total operation tally soar beyond 2,499 people charged with more than 6,069 offences.

In addition to the arrests, police also conducted 1,021 street checks, 627 business walk-throughs and 5,735 Roadside Breath Tests (RBTs) and Roadside Drug Tests (RDTs).

Operation Whiskey Legion has achieved great results with over 897 victims engaged and 81 of those referred to support services.

North Brisbane District Superintendent Simon Tayler said the operation has seen fantastic results – all contributing to the service’s goal to ensure the community is safe and feels safe.

“This deployment of the operation has seen a significant amount of police activity on the ground in North Brisbane – not only resulting in high-risk offenders being arrested but extensive community engagement across the areas.

“Our operation saturated areas like shopping centres and public events, boosting the policing presence and enhancing community safety.

“We have received positive feedback from the community throughout our operation. One example is a family who recognised police officers who had helped them in a domestic and family violence incident. The son told our officers that his goal was to join the service when he was older.”

Legion continued the police crackdown on weapons in public, after the operation has seized over 14 knives during deployment.

“Our officers conducted widespread wanding across North Brisbane, including bus interchanges, railway stations, Central, Fortitude Valley and Indooroopilly since the operation began.” Superintendent Tayler said.

By scanning for, detecting, and removing dangerous weapons from public places, police aim to reduce the harm these weapons cause in the community while educating the public on the risks of unlawfully carrying a weapon.

“A few examples of positive outcomes from wanding include a 14-year-old Pullenvale boy who was stopped for wanding at the Indooroopilly Railway Station on June 19. He declared a folding pocketknife and subsequently was issued a caution.” Superintendent Tayler said.

“This instance allowed officers to educate the boy and his friends on the dangers of carrying pocketknives.”

In a separate incident, a 55-year-old Springfield lakes man was charged with two counts of possession of a knife in a public place by Bike Squad in Fortitude Valley. He is expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 9.

Superintendent Tayler said the operation achieved great results from the 77 search warrants police conducted during Legion.

Police charged a 51-year-old Brisbane City man on seven counts of wilful damage to property between September 2023 to May 2024. He is expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 10.

In a separate operation, police conducted a search warrant for a 30-year-old Hendra man wanted for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. The man was located and taken into custody without issue. Police also located methylamphetamine on the roof and ammunition.

The man was charged with one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle with prior conviction, one count driving of motor vehicle without a driver’s licence, one count of conspiracy to commit false declarations, one count of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing anything for use in the commission of crime, one count of possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, one count of authority required to possess explosives, three counts of unlawful possession of a weapon. He appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on June 24.

Superintendent Tayler said there were just a few examples of the great outcomes seen from the operation.

“We are proud of everyone involved in the operation, ensuring the community is safe and feels safe. These achievements would not be possible without the general duties officers who continue to work hard to ensure the day-to-day, business-as-usual operations run smoothly in support of Legion.

“Even though this deployment to North Brisbane has concluded, the community can expect to see high visibility policing with Operation Whiskey Unison and other localised operations continuing in our area.”

Operation Whiskey Legion will continue with rolling deployments in areas across Queensland.