MOST people don’t get to see behind the blue line – and with a proactive team of police officers on the crime beat in Tamworth.

The Leader did just that on Friday, on a night that would culminate in the capture of one of the town’s most wanted and seizure of what’s suspected to be ecstasy pills in a random car stop.

“TAMWORTH 15, one on board back to Tamworth Station,” the uniformed constable radios to police headquarters. 

It was the confirmation Tamworth police had been hoping for.

This particular offender, who had evaded police in several pursuits, slipping through the net three times last week, was now sitting in the back of the paddy wagon.

His time on the run finally came to end about 10.45pm on Friday when the Tamworth Target Action Group (TAG) swooped, backed by uniformed officers.

The Leader was there when the arrest breakthrough was made, invited along to witness the TAG team in action, on the beat, on what was meant to be another regular Friday night.

But these officers are no ordinary police.

They do back up general duties police, detectives and assist in investigating crime throughout Oxley, but they are the only dedicated proactive police team in the command aiming to target problem offenders, those wanted by police on the run, crime syndicates and the causal factors pushing up crime rates, like drugs, which is fuelling offences.

“At the end of the day everyone is a police officer,” the TAG senior constable said on duty.

“It’s instinct, you’ve been in the job for a few years, you know you have to think outside the square.”

Already one wanted offender had been captured on Wednesday following a siege, and now Friday night has seen the second, but there is still a long way to go.

There are more offenders wanted, bail checks need carrying out, and drug investigations are ongoing.

Drugs have become a major problem in the Tamworth area and the ice scourge isn’t helping the workload.

Police have intelligence to suggest the dangerous drug is rife and they believe a large batch has made its way into town, hitting the streets.

“Police have seen a rising prevalence in the use of ice in the Tamworth area,” Acting TAG team leader Sergeant Geoff Sharpe said. 

“And this is based on evidence of people who have told police they are using it and the increase in syringes located during searches of persons.”

According to officers, the biggest threat is those under the influence of ice are not only dangerous, but powerful and incredibly unpredictable – adding to the unknown on what police will be confronted with on any given day.

While cannabis has been a problem for many years, they have also noticed fentanyl patches – a prescription narcotic drug that can have fatal consequences – has also been circulating in the city, along with methylamphetamine.

And they know the continued drug use fuels the addiction and the crime cycle.

“It goes hand in hand with your property crime, your break-and-enters, your stealings, it’s definitely a problem for us,” the senior constable remarks.

On Friday night, we are on duty with two TAG senior constables and the shift plan includes suspicious activity reviews and random car stops.

Already that afternoon there has been a drug detection after they stopped a car on Manilla Rd before suspicions were raised over what might be inside.

Both senior constables talked to the driver and searched the car with suspicions there could be illegal drugs hidden.

The 21-year-old Tamworth man allegedly admitted to possessing two tablets, believed to be ecstasy, which are immediately seized from his wallet. He’s facing one count of possessing a prohibited drug and will have to front Tamworth Local Court at a later date.

After the search, the team head back to the station where the paperwork and charges are completed, and the drugs are sealed and secured in an exhibits area ahead of court.

The TAG unit has had three authorised constable positions for two years.

A sergeant and two rotating general duty police assist in the team as part of an action plan set out by Oxley police.

And this is a unit that relies on community help.

Tips, information, suspicious sightings, it all adds to the workload and could just be the piece of the puzzle officers need.

They are constantly appealing for public information and urge the community to contact them on 0458 226 647 – a dedicated phone line for the unit.

“We continue to inspect certain locations suspected of suspicious activity,” Sergeant Sharpe said.

3pm: Both senior constables sign on for duty, complete with the police-issued firearms, spare ammunition, radio, capsicum spray, extendable baton, and handcuffs, prepare for shift ahead.

“We check what’s happened overnight to see if there is anything outstanding,” the senior constable says. First job: following on from information about a suspicious activity at a location. Back on patrol not long after and senior constables patrol Tamworth.

    Locate a car on Manilla Rd, pull it over to question driver before searching it. A 21-year-old Tamworth driver allegedly admits to possessing two tablets, believed to be ecstasy, which are immediately seized from his wallet. Back to the station where paperwork and charges are completed. Drugs are sealed and secured in an exhibits area ahead of court.

6pm: More intelligence and public information reviewed as part of ongoing cases and taskings, risk assessment carried out.

7.10pm: Leave station for a routine patrol, this time around Coledale.

7.30pm: Drive around several streets, pull up at Cole Rd as seven children, including a toddler, are playing on the road.

 TAG crew has a number of people they are on look-out for as well as their STMPs – the suspects under the target management plan – who have been identified at risk of further offending and must be stopped if sighted.

8pm: Head for South Tamworth to a home that could have possible links to man wanted on outstanding warrant.

8.12pm: Crew arrives at house, man is wanted for revocation of parole and information suggests he could have been in the wider area.

8.25pm: Officers are back on, and head to second home in the area to check out location in the search for offender.

8.35pm: Doorknock home and speak to one of the occupants who tells police the man in question is not there.

    “It’s a lot of puzzlework,” the officer remarks when he gets back into the car, referring to the continual checks to piece together the wanted person’s current location.

 They have to rule out locations before they can hone in, to ensure the wanted person is apprehended.

9.10pm: Back to station for short meal break, but officers complete paperwork and enter data to match tasks carried out for this shift.

    Compiling information is critical in the unit as they build their case against those wanted, or those behind a cycle of crime.

    Any sighting or intelligence on suspicious activity could provide the backing evidence required when a certain incident unfolds.

9.45pm: Back in car headed to West Tamworth for follow-up work, bail checks and patrol, but that is quickly put on back burner as information trickles through a man wanted by police is hiding out at an address.

9.55pm: Contact is made with supervisor before heading back to station for briefing and call for back up to assist in possible arrest.

10.15pm: Following briefing, six other general-duties officers are given their positions, a risk assessment is made, offender description is provided before three crews are deployed to Coledale to back up TAG unit.

10.25pm: Crews take their position and surround the house, both TAG senior constables approach door, before they sight suspect’s face peeping out a window. The particular offender has evaded police but the sighting gives police the power to move in on the home, despite any disagreement residents could make.

    It’s a heavy police presence but they aren’t taking any chances.

    The flickers of police torches inside the home can be seen through the front windows. Only a minute later, police paddy wagon parks out front of house, and policewoman opens the door before putting gloves on. The front door opens and senior constables file out, one offender in custody, before he’s placed in the back of paddy wagon.

10.45pm: Everyone returns to the vehicle, confirming arrest after man was found hiding under the bed from police who searched the home.

    The man, whom police believe was at risk of further offending as he hid from officers, was wanted for breaching bail, contravening an apprehended violence order and domestic assault.

    It’s the second arrest of a wanted offender by Oxley police in three days.

11pm: Man is taken inside vandock of police station, strip searched and entered into custody before he can choose to be interviewed by officers.

    Senior constables check offender’s history and start process to charge man with three offences before he is read his rights, fingerprinted and photographed.

    Just after midnight, he was refused bail by the station supervisor, to spend the night in custody before fronting a bail court the following morning while police finish paperwork.

1am: Shift ends.