On Wednesday 28 May strike force detectives executed a search warrant and arrested Mr Pene. THE former director of the Connect Global drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility has been granted bail after being charged with allegedly perverting the course of justice by falsifying reports about client drug use. Ross Retini Pene, 68, was arrested last […]

Police target DFV offenders across the state
POLICE have charged 627 people with more than 1300 offences during a four-day statewide operation targeting domestic and family violence (DFV). “Operation Amarok X” ran from Wednesday 14 May to Saturday 17 May 2025, and involved officers from all police area commands and police districts across NSW. The Domestic and Family Violence Command-led operation also […]
Twelve new police officers hit the ground across the Hunter
TWELVE new Probationary Constables are beginning work in the Hunter region, allocated to Hunter Valley, Manning-Great Lakes, Mid North Coast and Port Stephens-Hunter Police Districts. NSW Police Force’s Class 365 officially attested at the Goulburn Police Academy on Friday, 2 May. The new recruits have now commenced duties at their new home stations across the […]
Police legal action rates rise across most offences
THE NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has released a new report examining the proportion of recorded crimes that result in an offender being charged by NSW Police. The study, “Trends in police legal action rates 2009-2023”, examines the rate of legal action taken by police across 11 categories of offences over 15 […]
Investigation continues into fatal Stroud crash
POLICE inquiries are ongoing after a woman died following a crash in Stroud. About 1.30pm on Thursday 24 April 2025, emergency services were called to a showground on Cowper St, Stroud, following reports of a crash. Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and found two women – aged 72 and 82 – had […]
Motorist safety urged after horror month on NSW roads
POLICE are urging motorists to take extra care these school holidays following an increase in fatalities on the state’s roads. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos said the number of lives lost on NSW roads this year has already reached an alarming level, with 39 crashes resulting in 41 people killed in March, the highest […]

Police conducting bail checks on ‘weak’ legal basis
POLICE in Australia’s largest state have been slammed for regularly entering the private property of former inmates out on bail to conduct compliance checks, without a court order. A damning report from the NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission says police have been stretching their authority and powers by relying on a weak legal principle to […]

Tea Gardens volunteer firefighter awarded for 10 years of service
VOLUNTEER firefighter and Tea Gardens local Keith Baker has been awarded a medal for his 10 years with the NSW Rural Fire Service. Keith was among more than 100 volunteers acknowledged for a combined 2000 years of service to the Mid Coast region during a ceremony in Taree on 29 March. RFS Chief Superintendent Kam […]
Floodwaters subside across Dungog as clean-up operation continues
A LOW-PRESSURE system off the northern NSW coast caused widespread rainfall and strong winds across the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions, including the Dungog Shire. With floodwaters now subsiding, the local community is shifting its focus to cleaning up and recovering from the damage caused by the severe weather event. By 10:02am on […]