Officers from the Richmond Police District (RPD) have been busy in the last seven days, charging 45 people with 71 offences.

Once again, domestic violence related arrests made up the majority of the offences, that is 40.8%.

The Top Offences were:

1. Contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (Domestic) - 12 (16.9%)
2. Detention application – arrest - 5 (7.0%)
3. Stalk/intimidate… harm (domestic/personal) - 5 (7.0%)
4. Drive with middle range PCA – 1st off - 3 (4.2%)
5. Shoplifting value ≤ $2000 - 3 (4.2%)
6. Drive during disqualification (2nd+ off) - 3 (4.2%)
7. Use carriage service to menace/harass/offend - 3 (4.2%)

SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS:

1. On 17 January 2026, police responded to a Triple Zero call from a distressed female requesting police attendance at a residence in West Ballina. A 33yr old male is alleged to have been intoxicated and threatened to harm her and her children, which is in breach of an existing AVO and bail conditions. The male fled prior to police arrival. A new AVO protecting all three victims was granted. On 23 January 2026, police located the male at the same address in further breach of restrictions and arrested him without incident. He was taken to Ballina Police Station, where he was bail refused to appear before Ballina Local Court on the 5 of February 2026.
2. About 7:34pm on Friday, 23 January 6 RPD Highway Patrol officers stopped a vehicle in Lismore after noticing the driver travelling unusually slowly and causing confusion at an intersection. Police breath tested the 49-year-old driver, who returned a roadside positive breath test. He was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station, where he underwent a breath analysis, returning a reading of 0.204. His licence was immediately suspended, and he was charged with drive with high range PCA to appear at Lismore Local Court on the 23rd of February 2026.
3. On 16 January 2026, Lismore police were informed that a 29-year-old female patient at the Lismore Base Hospital became violent and assaulted a nurse. While being assessed in the emergency department, the female began thrashing, kicked the nurse in the stomach and thigh, then bit their right index finger, causing a puncture wound that will require ongoing medical treatment. A security officer also reported an attempted bite. On 24 January 2026, police located the female in South Lismore ,where she was arrested and charged with assault frontline health worker – actual bodily harm, to appear before Lismore Local Court on the 23rd of February 2026.
4. On 25 January 2026, a service station attendant at Reddy Express, Lismore, reported being threatened by a 29yr old man, who entered the store with a knife concealed in his waistband. After selecting a drink, the man demanded it for free, stating, “I’ll whip it out,” causing the victim to fear they would be stabbed. In the end, the man paid and left the store, after which the victim contacted police. CCTV footage confirmed the offender’s identity, and police located the man shortly after in a room at a local Motel, arresting him without incident. A search warrant later recovered a knife, clothing and other items linked to the offence. The man was charged with Armed w/i commit indictable offence, Carry knife visible in public place-cause fear for safety, Demand property with menaces with intent to steal and Stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal). He was bail refused to appear before Lismore Local Court on the 9th of February 2026.

COURT RESULTS:

1. On the 23rd of January, Ballina Local Court sentenced a 43-year-old Ballina man to 8mths imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 4mths, for Common Assault (Domestic)
2. On 22 January, Casino Local Court sentenced a 28-year-old Coraki man to 18 months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 5mths, for Armed w/i commit indictable offence and Stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic).
3. On 16 January, Kyogle Local Court sentenced a 53-year-old man to a 2-year Community Correction Order, Community Corrections Supervision for 2 years, as well as drug and alcohol abstention for 2 years, for Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty and Assault police officer in execution of duty w/o abh.
4. On 19 January, Lismore Local Court sentenced a 32-year-old male to 22mths imprisonment, with a non parole period of 14mths, for the following offences: Common Assault DV; Destroy or Damage property DV; Contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO DV x 3; Goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen (not m/v); Stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm DV; Fail to appear in accordance with bail acknowledgement; Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period - 2nd+ off; Police pursuit - not stop - drive at speed - 1st off. A severity appeal has been lodged, to be mentioned in Lismore Local Court on the 23rd of March 2026.