Two men arrested at Yass following a police pursuit early yesterday have been charged.

Police were called to the Hume Highway at Gundagai about 2am (Sunday 13 December 2015), following reports of a break and enter on a business.

Two men driving a utility were pursued from Gundagai to Yass, during which police will allege a number of shots were fired by the men.

About 3.40am, those men stopped at a service centre at Yass, where police allege the men forced the driver of a Ford Falcon out of his vehicle at gunpoint.

Two ACT men, both aged 23, were arrested at the service centre and taken to Yass Police Station.

They have each been charged with numerous offences, including shoot with intent to murder, aggravated break and enter, assault and resist arrest.

Both have been refused bail to appear before Goulburn Local Court today (Monday 14 December 2015).

An independent critical incident team from Monaro Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm during the arrests.

That investigation will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.

FIRE crews extinguished a small grass blaze on Goulburn’s eastern outskirts on Saturday afternoon.

NSW Fire and Rescue was called to the fire on a no through road, off Bungonia Rd at 3.15pm.

There were unconfirmed residents’ reports a property owner had been using a slasher just before the outbreak. Smoke plumes could be seen from the Hume Highway but the blaze only burnt through about two acres.

Two town brigades were joined by five RFS crews – two from Bungonia and three Support units.

NSW Fire and Recue retained firefighter Chris Grady said while the wind was reasonably light at the time, the greater concern was that it could have jumped the road into longer grass. However they extinguished the fire within 30 minutes.

While a total fire ban was not in place in the fire region on Saturday, people are reminded to be eternally vigilant with the use of machinery, given the dry conditions.

The outbreak comes three weeks after a 60 hectares tore through land off the Goulburn Bypass in gusting conditions. It was sparked after a vehicle lost its trailer wheel on the Hume Highway.

Also on Saturday afternoon, at 4pm, the RFS was called to a grass fire at Bullspit Rd, Brayton. Marulan brigades are attending and are expected to be joined by others. At the time of writing, the fire had been contained.

Shots were fired during a lengthy police pursuit from Gundagai to Yass in southern New South Wales, police say.

Police said they were called to the Hume Highway at Gundagai about 2:00am today after reports of a break and enter at a business.

Two men driving a ute were pursued from Gundagai to Yass for close to two hours, during which officers allege a number of shots were fired by the men.

About 3:40am, the men, both aged 23 from the ACT, stopped at a service centre at Yass, where police said they forced the driver of a Ford Falcon out of his vehicle at gunpoint.

Both men were arrested at the service station and were taken to Yass Police Station.

Police said at least one firearm was seized for forensic examination.

An independent critical incident team from Monaro Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm during the arrests.

A critical incident investigation has been launched after shots were allegedly fired during a police pursuit and arrest at Yass this morning.

Police were called to the Hume Highway at Gundagai about 2am (Sunday 13 December 2015), following reports of a break and enter on a business.

Two men driving a utility were pursued from Gundagai to Yass, during which police will allege a number of shots were fired by the men.

About 3.40am, those men stopped at a service centre at Yass, where police allege the men forced the driver of a Ford Falcon out of his vehicle at gunpoint.

Two men, both aged 23 from the ACT, were arrested at the service centre and have been taken to Yass Police Station. At least one firearm has been seized for forensic examination.

An independent critical incident team from Monaro Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm during the arrests.

That investigation will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.

More than 100 new officers will join the ranks of the NSW Police Force today.

The 105 recruits will be sworn in at an attestation parade at the NSW Police Force Academy in Goulburn later this morning (Friday 11 December 2015).

They will begin work in their local area commands as probationary constables from next Monday (14 December 2015).

The officers will then complete 12 months’ on-the-job training and study by distance education with Charles Sturt University before they officially graduate with an Associate Degree in Policing Practice, and be confirmed in the rank of constable.

NSW Police Force Commissioner Andrew Scipione said he could not be more proud of the
82 men and 23 women who attested today.

“It is no small feat to have met the requirements of the police training program; it is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“With that behind them, the new officers are about to embark on a career that will be filled with challenges and rewards.

“I am confident they will approach their new roles with dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism,” he said.

The students of “Class 326” hail from a diverse range of countries, including not only Australia, but also Brazil, England, Italy, Malaysia, South Africa and Venezuela.

Seven of the new recruits identify as being from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background.

They are diverse in other ways, too: the youngest officer who attested today is aged 20; the eldest is 39. For some, it’s their first job; others have come to policing from an earlier career. Many come from Sydney, but there are also recruits who grew up on the South Coast Coast, Northern Tablelands, Blue Mountains, Canberra, Goulburn and Wagga Wagga.

FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT “CLASS 326”

A total of 105 new recruits will be sworn in today.

The class comprises 82 policeman and 23 policewomen.

Of the probationary constables who will attest today, 90 were born in Australia and 14 were born overseas. Their countries of origin include the Brazil, England, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Italy, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Venezuela and Wales.

Among those attesting today, seven probationary constables identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island background.

The two youngest recruits are aged 20 and the oldest is 39. Other age statistics:

4 are aged 18-20

48 are aged 21-25

30 are aged 26-30

18 are aged 31-35

5 are aged 36-40

A man has been charged over multiple serious alleged domestic violence offences, including shooting a woman with an air rifle, injuring her with a knife, and sexually assaulting her.

The alleged offences occurred between 2004 and 2015, with the majority occurring while the couple resided in Wagga Wagga; and some allegedly occurring in Ballina this year.

The allegations were reported for the first time in September this year and officers from Richmond Local Area Command immediately commenced inquiries under Strike Force Boat.

As a result of investigations, about 11am yesterday (Thursday 10 December 2015), a search warrant was executed at an address in West Ballina, where police seized computers, tattoo guns, compound bows and other items.

About 2 pm, police arrested a 41-year-old man at a work site in Moree.

He was taken to Moree Police Station, where he was charged with shoot with intent cause grievous bodily harm, four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and prohibition of female genitalia mutilation.

The man was refused bail, to appear before Moree Local Court today (Friday 11 December 2015).