Month: April 2020

No infringements have been issued anywhere in the state of New South Wales in connection with the new powers which commenced at midnight Monday.
In the last 24 hours only one infringement has been issued in the entire state for a breach of self-isolation and that infringement does not relate to increased powers in place since midnight Monday (30 March 2020).
I am on the record that NSW Police Force continues to use discretion in applying these regulations and the community must continue to work with police and the Government to ensure the safety of everyone in New South Wales.
If people continue to flout the rules and ignore the message, then tickets will be issued.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has issued directions to stop the spread of COVID-19, which kills people.
You must stay at home unless you have a reasonable excuse for leaving.
Shopping for food, travel to work or school, medical treatment or exercise are all reasonable excuses.
Exercise is important for physical and mental health. The list of exercise types is endless and it is not possible to list them all; and some forms of exercise are more active than others.
The important thing is that people comply with the two person rule when doing exercise, or that they only exercise with their household.
As I keep saying, a good rule of thumb is that if you are questioning whether you should be doing something, it is best to give it a miss.
Treat every situation like YOU have the virus.
DO THAT.
SAVE LIVES.

A joint operation has been conducted with Australian Border Force to facilitate a medical assessment on the Ruby Princess.
The Marine Area Command provided an escort for NSW Health and an independent medical team to board the ship earlier today (Thursday 2 April 2020).
No police officers boarded the vessel.
Additionally, the NSW Police Force is assisting with a number of medical evacuations and transfers of Australian crew members from several cruise ships anchored off Sydney.
During today’s joint operation, a 66-year-old crew member was transported from the vessel requiring medical care.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller will provide an update on the evolving operation regarding the management of cruise ships tomorrow morning (Friday 3 April 2020).

A total of 13 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) were issued yesterday in relation to alleged breaches of the Public Health Act:
INDIVIDUALS
– Just after midnight (Wednesday 1 April 2020), police were patrolling Artarmon when they saw two men standing together on the Princes Highway. It’s alleged that as officers approached, one of the men ran – but was chased and eventually stopped by police. Both men gave varying accounts about why they were out, however neither satisfied the requirements stipulated by the Public Health Order. The men – aged 19 and 24 – were searched, issued with infringement notices and moved on.
– About 1.30am yesterday (Wednesday 1 April 2020), officers attached to New England Police District stopped a vehicle on Adelaide Street, Moree, for the purposes of a roadside breath test. The driver, a 34-year-old woman, was unable to provide a reasonable excuse for leaving her home in Coonamble and was issued with a penalty infringement notice.
– About 1.30am yesterday (Wednesday 1 April 2020), police stopped a car in Coonamble containing five people and gave them a verbal warning about social distancing, public gatherings and non-essential travel. It will be alleged that at 8.45am the same morning, one of the occupants of the vehicle – a 21-year-old woman – was spotted by officers walking around Coonamble without a legitimate excuse. She was issued with an infringement notice.
– Yesterday about 3.15am (Wednesday 1 April 2020) officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District fined a 23-year-old man for not comply with noticed direction (Section 7/8/9 – COVID-19). The man was given a warning by police the previous evening, before being caught leaving his home a second time without a reasonable excuse.
– About 9.15am on Friday 20 March 2020, a 28-year-old man arrived in Australia from New Zealand, with two travel companions and was informed of his obligations to enter a 14-day self-isolation period in his home due to COVID-19. About 10.30am yesterday (Wednesday 1 April 2020), officers attached to Riverina Police District attended the man’s registered address in Gundagai to conduct a welfare and compliance check. The man was not home and was later stopped by police driving his vehicle on Sheridan Street. For failing to self-quarantine, the man was issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice.
– About 4pm (Wednesday 1 April 2020), police saw two men sitting together at Caseys Beach Reserve, Batehaven, drinking alcohol. When officers spoke with the pair, it’s alleged they became abusive and claimed they were exercising. One of the men, aged 41, was charged with an unrelated offence and issued an infringement notice in relation to breaching a Public Health Order. The other 44-year-old man was issued an infringement notice, searched and moved on from the area.
– Just before 6pm (Wednesday 1 April 2020), police attended a single vehicle crash on Union Road, Lavington. The car’s only occupant – a 51-year-old man – was not injured, but allegedly told police he had left his home in order to visit his drug dealer. The man was arrested and taken to hospital for blood and urine testing. Checks revealed he was disqualified from driving. He was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for driving whilst disqualified (2nd+ offence) and given an infringement notice for contravening a Public Health Order.
– A man and a woman were fined yesterday (Wednesday 1 April 2020), after police patrolling Scott Street, Muswellbrook, spotted the pair sitting in a car. Following inquiries, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District found neither the 32-year-old woman or the 27-year-old man had a reasonable excuse not to be at home.
– Yesterday, a 21-year-old man ignored two warnings to be fined $1000 for failing to comply with Ministerial directions under the Public Health Act. Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District found the man for the third time that day (Wednesday 1 April 2020), on Market St eating a kebab on a bench.
BUSINESSES
– Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended a remedial massage business on Harrison Street, Cardiff, about 4pm yesterday (Wednesday 1 April 2020), following information it was continuing to operate. Police observed several customers enter and leave the premises. The operator, a 57-year-old woman, was spoken to and issued a $5,000 PIN for failing to comply with noticed direction (Section 7/8/9 – COVID-19).
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Police have fined a man after he was allegedly caught speeding in a Lamborghini to a COVID-19 clinic in Sydney’s west.

About 6.55pm on Monday 30 March 2020, an officer from the Motorcycle Response Group detected the car allegedly travelling up to 160 km/h in a 90km/h zone on the M4 motorway at Lidcombe.

When the 35-year-old driver was stopped, he allegedly told the officer he was on his way to Westmead Hospital to get tested for COVID-19.

The officer, who followed appropriate protocols, issued a traffic infringement notice to the man and suspended his licence.

The man then continued to the clinic to be tested before undergoing mandatory self-isolation.

Commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, has reminded motorists to drive safely on the roads in all circumstances.

“Drivers shouldn’t break the road rules under any circumstances,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.

“Speeding endangers the life of motorists as well as pedestrians.”

“If you think you may have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to seek help from a doctor or hospital, call ahead of time to book an appointment, or visit a NSW Health COVID-19/Flu assessment clinic should you become unwell.”

“If you are experiencing a medical emergency, contact triple 000,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.

Police have issued three penalty infringement notices and given several warnings in relation to the new restrictions under the Public Health Order issued at midnight on Monday (30 March 2020).
With updated state-wide figures now at hand, police can confirm three individuals were yesterday issued with an infringement notice for ‘Not comply with noticed direction (Section 7/8/9 – COVID-19)’
– About 10.30am yesterday (Tuesday 31 March 2020), a 39-year-old man was stopped after being seen washing car windscreens at the intersection of Woodville Road and the Hume Highway, Chester Hill. Police will allege the man indicated he had no intention of complying with the Public Health Order, stating “It’s just a virus, it’s not that bad”. He was also issued with a move along direction and an infringement notice for ‘Pedestrians not to cause a traffic hazard or obstruction/Pedestrian stand on road to wash or offer to wash windscreen’.
– About 2.30pm yesterday, police from Bankstown Police Area Command saw four people drinking alcohol outside of a closed hotel on Bankstown City Plaza. Although three people from the group left upon speaking with police, it’s alleged a 57-year-old man became abusive and refused their directions to leave. He was also searched, given an infringement notice for offensive language and moved on.
– Just before 6.30pm last night, police patrolling Parkes saw numerous people gathering outside a residence. Officers identified that one person in the group, a 26-year-old man, was not a family member. It’s alleged that failed to heed several warnings and requests by police to leave the area. He eventually left after being issued a move along direction.
NSW Police Commissioner Michael Fuller said police will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the wider community.
“I have said time and time again that one of the most important powers police have is the power of discretion.
“Additional powers have been introduced with good reason and I encourage my officers to use them in the spirit in which they were intended – to keep the people of NSW safe throughout this crisis.
“I’d encourage people to continue to do the right thing without the need for police involvement and the use of these new powers.
“A good rule of thumb is that if you are questioning whether you should be doing something, it is best to give it a miss,” Commissioner Fuller said.

A woman has been charged after allegedly coughing on people in the Snowy Mountains earlier today.
About 9.20am (Wednesday 1 April 2020) a woman was walking south along Sharp Street, Cooma, when she allegedly stepped in front of another woman and intentionally coughed in her direction.
The woman allegedly continued to cough at members of the public as she walked past them, including a woman with a young child.
The matters were reported to police and an investigation commenced by officers from Monaro Police District.
A short time later, police located the 41-year-old Jerrabomberra woman at the intersection of Sharp Street and Bombala Street, Cooma.
It’s alleged that the woman did not have a valid reason for being at the location and was contravening a Public Health Order.
She was arrested and taken to Cooma Police Station, where she was charged with two counts of stalk intimidate intend to cause fear physical harm and not comply with notice/direction under the Public Health Act.
The woman was refused bail and is due to face Wollongong Local Court via AVL tomorrow (Thursday 2 April 2020).