57 PEOPLE ARRESTED FOLLOWING OPERATION SAVETE

NSW Police Officers from the Police Transport Command have arrested 57 people alleged to have committed sexual offending in and around the public transport network.

The arrests resulted from a three-day policing operation called Operation Savete, which commenced on 25 August 2026 and concluded 27 August 2026.

It involved 160 officers who were deployed across the state in both a high visibility policing and covert capacity.

HAVE YOU BEEN CHARGED WITH A SEXUAL OFFENCE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT?

If you have been charged with a Sexual Offence on public transport, contact our team at Criminal Lawyers Group for a free consultation. Sexual offence convictions can have severe repercussions, so it’s crucial to be represented by our award-winning team, who were recently awarded the title of best sexual offence lawyers in NSW.

MAN CHARGED WITH INTENTIONALLY ALTER INTIMATE IMAGE WITHOUT CONSENT

Among the 57 people arrested as part of Operation Savete included a 19 year old man arrested in Colyton on 26 August 2026 for allegedly sexually touching three women on the rail network on Thursday 20 August 2026 and Tuesday 25 August 2026.

He was subsequently charged with intentionally alter intimate image without consent, sexually touch another person without consent, carry out sexual act with another without consent (two counts) and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical or mental harm.

On 27 August 2026, the man appeared before Penrith Local Court and was refused Bail to reappear at the same Court on 10 September 2026.

DIGITAL ADVANCEMENTS LEADS TO LAW REFORM AND NEW SEXUAL CRIMINAL OFFENCES

Digital advancements in technology create and advance the prevalence of activity considered harmful and worthy of new criminal offences. The criminal offence of intentionally alter new intimate image without consent is a prime example of this, with the activity less prevalent and the criminal offence non-existent prior to the introduction of technology that so easily enables it.

The offence is enshrined in Section 91PA of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), which was legislated in September 2025 and constitutes it a criminal offence for a person to:

Alter an image or audio of another person so that the image or audio is intimate image or audio material –

(i) without the other person’s consent, and

(ii) knowing the other person did not consent to the alteration or being reckless about whether the other person consented to the alteration,

Create intimate image or audio material of a simulated person –

(i) without the consent of the real person whom the image or audio is meant to represent, and

(ii) knowing the real person did not consent to the creation or being reckless about whether the real person consented to the creation.

Can I go to jail for a conviction of Intentionally Alter Intimate Image Without Consent?

Yes, a criminal conviction of Intentionally Alter Intimate Image Without Consent can result in a punishment of up to 3 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $11,000.

Other penalties available for a conviction include an Intensive Correction Order (ICO), Community Correction Order (CCO), Conditional Release Order (CRO) and a Fine.

A conviction is likely to cause repercussions beyond those imposed by the Court, such as reputational damage and impacts on employment and professional licensing.

IMPORTANT NEXT STEP – GETTING BAIL ON A CHARGE OF INTENTIONALLY ALTER INTIMATE IMAGE WITHOUT CONSENT

You may be granted bail whilst your criminal matter is in progress and it is important to do so, for the sake of your own liberty and so that you are best positioned to commit to your legal matter. It is much easier to gather evidence in support of your case as a free person, rather than during incarceration. Your bail is likely to come with conditions, although you may seek to have the conditions varied.

Our expert bail lawyers at Criminal Lawyers Group were awarded the best law firm in Australia for securing bail for our clients who have been charged with serious criminal offences, including Intentionally Alter Intimate Image Without Consent offences.

CONTACT CRIMINAL LAWYERS GROUP NOW

If you or anyone you know have been accused or charged with the criminal offence of of Intentionally Alter Intimate Image Without Consent, contact our expert lawyers at Criminal Lawyers Group immediately for a free consultation so that we may secure the best outcome for you.

Our award-winning team of criminal law experts are nationally recognised for securing not guilty verdicts, bail and the withdrawal of charges for our clients across NSW who have been charged with the criminal offence of of Intentionally Alter Intimate Image Without Consent.