The Richmond Police District completed its second high-visibility officer patrols last Thursday and Friday (July 10 and 11) in Ballina with great success.

This follows the Lismore CBD patrols on May 27 and 28, when uniformed and plainclothes police officers conducted a joint operation with Loss Prevention Officers and Compliance Officers from Lismore City Council to detect and disrupt crime in the Lismore and Goonellabah areas.

As a result of the operation, five people were charged with alleged shoplifting and drug offences, 27 criminal infringement notices were issued for shoplifting, 77 persons were scanned with hand-held devices under knife scanning powers, three youth cautions were conducted for shoplifting offences, and 18 move-on directions were issued.

The joint operation in Ballina involved the Ballina Fair Shopping Centre, Bunnings Ballina and Loss Prevention Officers.

As a result of the operation:

• 17 shoplifters detected
• 19 Criminal Infringement notices
• 16 person searches
• 9 persons scanned for weapons - nil finds
• 2 business inspections
• 1 ADVO compliance check
• 1 warrant arrest

Richmond Police District Commander Dave Roptell told the Lismore App, "We conducted a high visibility and a covert type of operation in Ballina, with the covert stuff mainly looking at shoplifting.

"We also overtly, which is in uniform, did some knife wanding or knife searches as part of the operation. Pleasingly, we didn't find anyone with any weapons on them. However, once we are there, and people see us, those carrying weapons obviously scatter from the place. So, that's a good deterrent focus.

"We want to keep these operations going. We will continue to focus on the Ballina, Lismore, and Casino areas. In fact, the Casino area will be next. And we'll continue with follow-up operations with the OICs (Officer in Charge) of each of those locations to keep it in check.

"We want to make sure that we are there to support the shop owners, Centrer Management and the community, and those results that we achieved during those operations actually support that, but there are offenses occurring and we just want to make sure that we are there to police it and ensure that the safety and well being of the community."