Last week was a busier week than officers from the Richmond Police District would have liked. Between 29 January and 4 February 2026, 50 people were charged with 111 offences. 59.3% of the offences were domestic violence-related.

The Top 5 Offence categories for the week were:

1. Contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (Domestic) – 14 (12.6%)

2. Common assault (DV) – 11 (9.9%)

3. Stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (Domestic) – 10 (9.0%)

4. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV) – 7 (6.3%)

5. Trespass – 5 offences – 5 (4.5%)

The most significant arrests, included:

1. At 1:17am on 29 January 2026, police responded to a Triple Zero call from a male reporting he was allegedly being chased and strangled by a female known to him. Police located the male victim distressed on Ballina Road, Lismore, with the 25-year-old female accused following him. The victim reported that during an alcohol fuelled argument at his residence, the accused forcibly grabbed him, ripped a necklace from his neck, and strangled him, causing difficulty breathing, before threatening to harm him.

He also disclosed a separate assault causing bodily harm in November 2025. The accused was arrested and charged in relation to 2 x DV assault, malicious damage, intentionally choke DV, and intimidation, to appear before Lismore Local Court 9th of February 2026.

2. Police have charged three women aged 28, 30 and 37, following an alleged home invasion and serious assault at a Goonellabah residence on 27 January 2026. Police allege the group forced entry into a bedroom where a woman was hiding before repeatedly assaulting her, including with a metal bar, causing a significant head laceration.

They have all been charged with Aggravated enter dwelling w/i-in company-not steal, and Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (abh) in company of other(s) (DV), to appear before the Lismore Local Court on the 24th of March 2026.

3. On 31 January 2026 Police charged a 24-year-old man after an alleged domestic-related incident at a Casino home on 24 January 2026. It’s alleged the man armed himself with a makeshift weapon before threatening and pushing a 50yr old man, causing him to fear for his safety. The man was charged with Armed w/i commit indictable offence; Common assault (DV); Contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (Domestic) and Stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic). He is to appear before the Casino Local Court on the 16th of June 2026.

4. A 23-year-old man has been charged after an alleged armed robbery at a Lismore convenience store on 30 January 2026, followed by an alleged armed carjacking, theft of another vehicle, and a police pursuit the next day. Police allege the man threatened a female employee with a screwdriver before taking cash, then later threatened a male driver with an imitation pistol and stole his vehicle, along with personal belongings.

In the early hours of 2 February, the man allegedly committed a second carjacking before failing to stop for police, leading to a pursuit through Dunoon and Modanville at high speed. The vehicle was disabled with a tyre deflation device, and the man was arrested, with an imitation firearm and stolen property recovered.

The man was charged with Agg take/drive m/v with person in/on it-armed with weapon, Learner not accompanied by driver/police officer/tester; Police pursuit - not stop - drive at speed - 1st off; Possess unauthorised pistol; Robbery armed with offensive weapon and Take/detain person in company w/i obtain advantage. He has been bail refused and is to appear before the Lismore Local Court on the 15th of April 2026

5. On 2 February 2026, police charged a 43-year-old man after he allegedly returned to a Lismore supermarket multiple times despite being formally banned from the premises due to repeat shoplifting offences. Across 1–2 February 2026, the man is accused of entering the store on multiple occasions and allegedly stealing a bottle of rum from an adjoining liquor store. Police later located the man nearby, where he made admissions before being arrested and charged with Trespass and Shoplifting.

He is due to appear before Lismore Local Court on the 9th of February 2026.

6. On 3 February 2026, a 66-year-old man from Casino was charged after Rural Crime Investigators attached to Richmond Police District served a Firearms Prohibition Order at a home on 30 January 2026. At this time, police located a firearm, firearm pars and several items classified as explosives, including rifle powder and primers - all possessed without the required licences.

The man is now facing multiple charges under the Firearms Act 1996 and the Explosives Act 2003. He is due to appear before the Casino Local Court on the 9 April 2026.

7. On 4 February 2026 a 34yr old man has been charged following a series of violent incidents across Ballina, Lismore and Alstonville between 2-4 February 2026, beginning with threats involving a knife toward family members before allegedly assaulting a woman, stealing multiple vehicles while armed, injuring a pregnant woman during one of the thefts, and leading police on several dangerous driving episodes.

The man, who has never held a driver’s licence, was later seen discarding a stolen vehicle before being located in Cumbalum armed with a large knife. He was arrested and charged, facing numerous serious domestic violence, armed robbery, vehicle theft, dangerous driving, and weapons-related offences. He is due to appear before the Lismore Local Court on the 4th of March 2026.