A man has been charged by police following an incident where he allegedly displayed tattoos depicting designated hate symbols at a popular Newcastle beach on Christmas Eve.
Arrest follows investigation by Operation Shelter
The incident was reported to officers from the Newcastle City Police District, who launched an investigation under Operation Shelter. Their inquiries led them hundreds of kilometres north to the town of Urunga, located just south of Coffs Harbour.
It was there, at approximately 6:30pm on Saturday, December 27, 2025, that Coffs Harbour detectives attended a home and arrested a 36-year-old man.
Specific charges related to public display
The man was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was formally charged. The charges relate specifically to the alleged public display of prohibited symbols.
He was charged with knowingly displaying by public act a Nazi symbol without excuse and causing a prohibited Nazi symbol to be displayed in a public place.
Following his arrest and charging, the man was granted strict conditional bail. He is scheduled to appear before the Newcastle Local Court on January 22, 2026 to answer to the allegations.
Police action on hate symbols
This arrest highlights ongoing police efforts to enforce laws against the public display of hate symbols in New South Wales. The legislation is designed to combat the promotion of ideologies associated with violence and racial hatred.
The Newcastle community reported the initial incident, demonstrating public vigilance against symbols that cause offence and threaten social cohesion.
