“Kids Shouldn’t Be Scared at School”: Inside Strike Force Pearl

NSW Police has doubled its investigative resources in the wake of a string of antisemitic attacks in Sydney.

Key points

• Detectives are working to prevent further attacks through its Strike Force Pearl, which was launched in December.
• Since October last year, there have been at least nine antisemitic attacks throughout the city
• “Children shouldn’t feel scared to go to school, people shouldn’t feel afraid to go to prayer or practice their religion,” NSW Police Force Commissioner Karen Webb said.

Detectives are working to prevent further attacks through its Strike Force Pearl, which was launched in December.

It follows the investigative work of Operation Shelter, which was created in October following the first attacks.

Since October last year, there have been at least nine antisemitic attacks throughout the city, including in Dover Heights, Woollahra, Maroubra, Newtown and Allawah.

“Children shouldn’t feel scared to go to school, people shouldn’t feel afraid to go to prayer or practice their religion,” NSW Police Force Commissioner Karen Webb said.

“The extra investigators under Strike Force Pearl means those who commit antisemitic acts will be caught and brought before the courts.”

“Doing everything we can”

On February 1, a further 40 dedicated investigators were deployed to Strike Force Pearl.

Police are aiming to disrupt any criminal activity around places of worship and schools.

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Detectives are working to prevent further attacks through its Strike Force Pearl, which was launched in December.

Since October 7, more than “37,000 taskings” have been undertaken by Operation Shelter, to proactively crack down on antisemitic behaviour.

“I want to reassure the Jewish community that we will do everything we can to find the perpetrators of these hateful crimes,” Commissioner Webb said.

Arrests

As part of the strike force, there have been a total of twelve arrests where charges have been brought.

NSW Police arrested and charged four men over fires at two businesses in Bondi in October last year.

Three men have been charged over the damage of 10 vehicles and buildings in November.

A woman has been charged over damaging vehicles and buildings in Woollahra in December.

And two men were charged over attempting to set alight a building in Newtown.

The latest arrest involved a 21-year-old man who was charged with intimidation following alleged antisemitic abuse in Bondi last weekend.

“Work together”

Arrests were also made over the discovery of an abandoned caravan in Dural on January 19, which contained explosives and a note that held the address of a Sydney synagogue. Police said the explosives could create a 40-metre blast radius.

“The NSW Police Force takes hate crimes seriously and encourages anyone who is the victim of a hate crime or witnesses a hate crime to report the matter,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone.”

Since October last year, there have been at least nine antisemitic attacks throughout the city.

The “movement making antisemitism unthinkable” Never Again Is Now CEO Mark Leach said “any act of solidarity and support will have significant impact”.

“The Jewish community feels isolated, attacked, and shocked at these events,” he said.

“There has never been a more important time for Christians and everyday Aussies to stand up against this racial hatred and stand with our Jewish neighbours. This is not just a Jewish problem; this is about the kind of country we want for our kids and our grandkids.”

Police patrols

On any given night in Sydney, helicopters and patrol cars are patrolling the streets of the eastern suburbs ready to stop antisemitic attacks.

During the patrols, officers are looking for any type of suspicious behaviour.

“Somebody who ducks into an alleyway when we’re not looking are the people that we want to target,” Superintendent Grant Healey told a team of police officers last month, as shown on the ABC’s Stateline.

“Be mindful these people are watching us as well, so it’s that stuff you see out of the corner of your eye.”

Community reassurance

Superintendent Healey told the ABC that when they are looking for signs of suspicious activity, the work involves intuition.

“Something that’s just generally out of place,” he said.

“Children shouldn’t feel scared to go to school, people shouldn’t feel afraid to go to prayer or practice their religion.”

“Somebody sitting somewhere they’re not supposed to be. If it’s a warmer night, somebody who’s got a hoodie on.”

The NSW Police response is “about community reassurance,” Commissioner Webb said.

“We talk to members of the community and if they pass on information or if they’ve got concerns about particular areas then we can respond to that.”

“We’ll be here”

Commissioner Webb reassures all Sydneysiders the 24-hr patrols will continue until the attacks are stamped out.

“We’re visible, we’re responsive to their needs and if they call us, then we’ll be here,” she said.

If you have any information, contact police through CrimeStoppers – 1800 333 000.

Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro