Month: July 2021

A 14th person has been issued with a $1000 fine after further investigations into a gathering at a home in Shellharbour at the weekend.
Officers from Lake Illawarra Police District attended the home about 9.40pm Saturday (3 July 2021), responding to reports of visitors at the location. One woman and 12 men, aged between 21 and 30, were issued with Penalty infringement Notices (PINs) for breaching stay at home directions.
Following inquiries, another 30-year-old man was identified today (Monday 5 July 2021), as being at the home; he has now been issued with a $1000 PIN for breaching a stay at home direction.
Police are concerned the community doesn’t become complacent about complying with Public Health Act guidelines, as residents of Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast enter their second week under a stay at home direction.
Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said he wanted to thank the overwhelming majority of people who are complying with the PHO directions.
“I’d like to thank everyone who is doing the right thing and complying with the directions; these people are aware of the risks and are demonstrating they care for their community and are making the job of police easier,” he said.
With 125 PINs issued in the past 24 hours across the designated area, police are finding many of the fines are being issued to groups of people gathering in breach of the current Public Health Order.
Complaints from members of the public have led to 10 men being issued with PINs of $1000 each after they were found gathered in a home in Fairfield Heights at the weekend.
About 11.45pm on Saturday 3 July 2021, officers from Fairfield City Police Area Command were called to a unit at The Boulevarde, Fairfield Heights, where police found 10 men – who were not residents – inside.
They have each been issued a $1000 PIN for fail to comply with PHO and given a direction by police to return to their homes immediately.
Complaints from the public have also resulted in two men again being arrested at a fruit store in Mascot about 6.30pm yesterday (Sunday 4 July 2021). Officers from South Sydney Police Area Command charged the owner with ‘not wear fitted face covering in retail business’ and ‘not ensure hospitality worker wear fitted face mask.’ The employee was charged with ‘not wear fitted face covering in retail business.’ Both men were granted conditional bail and will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 19 July 2021
Officers from Raymond Terrace Highway Patrol stopped a sedan on Adelaide Street at Raymond Terrace about 6.40pm yesterday, and spoke with the occupants. The men, aged 24 and 26 from Liverpool, were issued a $1000 PIN for breaching the stay at home direction, and failing to wear a face covering. The driver was also issued a number of penalty notices for defects to his vehicle. Both men were given a direction by police to return to their homes immediately.
On Day 10 of the stay at home direction, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott reminds the community to abide by the health orders.
“It is disappointing to see so many people ignoring the rules and putting the health of our community at risk,” Mr Elliott said.
“We must not get complacent with the health orders and must continue to work to stop the spread of this virus.”
In total, 125 PINs were issued yesterday and of those 45 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
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.

An unregistered car parked in a ‘no stopping’ zone in a Central West town has led police to issue $1000 fines to three Sydney people who breached Public Health Orders overnight.
Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District noticed an unregistered car parked in a no parking zone outside a hotel on Bolaro Street at Dunedoo, 90km north-east of Dubbo, about 8.50pm (Saturday 3 July 2021).
They identified the driver and discovered he was one of three people who’d travelled from Sydney that day and were booked to spend the night in the town. A 44-year-old man from Haberfield, a 51-year-old man from Fairfield West and a 38-year-old woman from Burwood have now been issued $1000 PINs for not comply with noticed direction 7/8/9 Covid-19. They have also been issued traffic infringement notices for driving an unregistered vehicle and being parked in a ‘no stopping’ zone.
Four people were yesterday each issued with $1000 PINs after being stopped by Chifley Highway Patrol at Little Hartley, about 150km west of their home in Maroubra. Officers stopped the group – two women aged 23 and 25, and two men aged 25 – on the Great Western Highway about 9am (Saturday 3 July 2021). All four were directed to return to Sydney.
The owner of a Mascot fruit shop and an employee of the same shop were also issued with PINs for breaching the PHO overnight. Officers from South Sydney Police Area Command attended a fruit shop on King Street, Mascot, about 6.30pm, after receiving complaints from the public the business was not using QR sign-in protocols and staff were not wearing masks.
Police spoke with the owner, a 57-year-old man, and an employee, a 26-year-old man, neither of whom were wearing masks. The older man was issued a penalty notice for not comply with noticed direction 7/8/9 Covid 19, while the younger man was issued a penalty notice for not wear fitted face covering in retail/business premises. They have been fined $1000 and $200 respectively.
Staff from a store in Bowral have also been charged with further breaches of the Public Health Act after officers attached to The Hume PD conducted a compliance check yesterday, and found 20 people inside allegedly not wearing face masks. Police requested those not consuming food or drink to put a face mask on; however, will allege the female staff, aged 62 and 43, refused. They were arrested and taken to Southern Highlands Police Station where they were charged with not wear fitted face covering in retail/business premises. They’ve been bailed to appear in Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday 17 August 2021.
In total, 86 PINs were issued yesterday and of those 55 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
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.

Thirteen people will be issued PINs after breaching the Public Health Act at Shellharbour yesterday.
About 9.40pm (Saturday 3 July 2021), officers from Lake Illawarra Police District attended a Shellharbour home, following reports of visitors at the home.
Police spoke to the residents, a 30-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman.
Four men – aged 21, 30, and two aged 24 – were also spoken to and it was determined they were not residents. They were all given directions to leave and return to their homes.
Following inquiries, police have since spoken to a further seven men – aged 26, 28, two aged 30 and three aged 25 – who had also attended the home.
The 11 visitors were unable to provide a valid reason for being away from home and they along with the two homeowners will be receiving $1000 PINS for breaching the Public Health Order.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
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.

A man charged with assaulting police after breaches of the Public Health Act were detected in the Southern Highlands earlier this week, has had more charges laid.
A 63-year-old man and two women, aged 62 and 43, were arrested on Thursday (1 July 2021), after complaints were made that staff at a Bowral cafe were not wearing masks.
All were taken to Southern Highlands Police Station where the man was charged with assault officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty, and incite to resist/hinder police officer in execution duty; he’s due to appear in Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday 3 August 2021.
Following further inquiries, the 63-year-old man was yesterday (Friday 2 July 2021), charged with not comply with the no spitting/coughing direction. He was also served with a $200 PIN for not wear fitted face covering when in indoor area of retail/business premises.
The 62-year-old woman has been charged with hinder police in the execution of duty (two counts), and fail to provide name and address. She was also issued a Future Court Appearance Notice (FCAN) not wear fitted face covering when in indoor area of retail/business premises.
In addition, a 43-year-old woman was issued a FCAN for not wear face mask covering in retail/business premises, and fail to provide name and address. Both women are due to appear at Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday 17 August 2021.
About 4.30pm yesterday, three men – two aged 21 and one aged 23 – from Merrylands and Auburn, attended Jenolan Caves and attempted to purchase tickets for a tour. Staff requested the group to leave on establishing they were from Sydney and police were notified. A short time later, police stopped their vehicle and when asked why they had travelled there, allegedly said they were bored. They were each issued with $1000 PINs and directed to return to Sydney.
On Wednesday (30 June 2021), police attended a café on Snowy Valley Way, Jindabyne, after numerous Crime Stoppers reports in relation to breaches of COVID-19 health orders. The owners – a 32-year-old woman and 33-year-old man – were arrested and charged for not wear fitted face covering in retail business. They were given conditional bail; however, officers attended the café again yesterday (Friday 2 July 2021), and again found no face coverings being worn by members of the public, no QR code and no sign-in sheet. The owners have been issued $1000 PINs for PHO breaches.
They were also issued a Future Court Attendance Notice for breach of bail conditions and are due to appear at Cooma Local Court on Thursday 5 August 2021. Police applied to the Department of Health seeking a Closure Order on the premises. A “show cause” notice was issued yesterday to the owners as to why the café should not be closed.
Seven people – five men and two women – have each been issued with a $1000 PIN for breaching PHO, for being out of home without reasonable excuse, after officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District were alerted to a group of people gathered in an industrial estate yesterday.
Police investigating a reported breach of the PHO at a hair salon at Rockdale, have fined the business $5000 and two customers $1000 each. Following information provided, officers from St George PAC went to the business on the Princes Highway about 5.10pm yesterday (Friday 2 July 2021), and found a customer having her hair coloured, with a second customer arriving while police were there. All have been issued with PINS.
Following further inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the travel of an organised group who were detected at a Dubbo zoo earlier this week (Monday 28 June 2021), all 128 travellers have received a caution under the Public Health Act. The investigation is now finalised.
In total, 78 PINs were issued yesterday and of those 48 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
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.

Two women have been charged after further breaches of the Public Health Act were detected at a café in the Southern Highlands today.
About 11.45am (Saturday 3 July 2021), officers attached to The Hume Police District attended a food store on Bowral Street, Bowral, to ensure compliance with the current Public Health Orders.
Police observed 20 people at the store – including two female employees serving customers – allegedly not wearing face masks while inside the premises.
Police requested staff and customers, not consuming food or drink, to put a face mask on.
The employees expressed they had no intention of complying and the two women, aged 62 and 43, were arrested and taken to Southern Highlands Police Station.
Both women were charged with not wear fitted face covering in retail/business premises and will face court at a later date.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
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.