A man has been charged after allegedly headbutting and spitting on a police officer who was assisting to enforce a beach closure in Sydney’s east yesterday.
About 11.20am yesterday (Monday 30 March 2020), a man and a woman attended Maroubra Beach, which had been closed by Randwick City Council.
Lifeguards notified the pair that the beach was closed and reminded them of the government’s social distancing guidelines.
It is alleged the man and woman then verbally abused the lifeguards, who contacted police.
A short time later, officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command stopped a 29-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman on Mons Avenue, Maroubra.
As police attempted to arrest the man, he allegedly headbutted and spat on a female sergeant, causing a laceration to her lip and swelling to her head.
Additional police attended and following a short struggle, the pair were arrested and taken to Maroubra Police Station.
The man was charged with assault police occasioning actual bodily harm, resist arrest, offensive behaviour and fail to comply with terms of notice erected by council.
He faced Central Local Court yesterday where he was refused bail to re-appear at the same court today (Tuesday 31 March 2020).
The woman was issued with a Criminal Infringement Notice for offensive behaviour and fail to comply with terms of notice erected by council.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, said police are in the frontline in the fight against COVID-19 and deserve respect.
“I’ve had a gutful of people abusing, harassing and assaulting our hardworking police officers who put their own safety on the line every day to protect the very people who attack them,” Minister Elliott said.
“If you choose to ignore a direction from police – one that is in place to save lives – then you can expect to be issued with a hefty fine or jail time.”
NSW Police Force Commissioner Mick Fuller said this type of behaviour won’t deter police, who will continue to do their best to keep the community safe.
“Our officers are committed to community safety and will continue to enforce all ministerial directions aimed to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“If you choose not to comply with directions put in place to protect the community against this virus, you can expect to face the full force of the law.”
NSW Police officers have the additional power to issue Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) to anyone found to be in contravention of a ministerial direction under the Public Health Act.
PINs carry on-the-spot fines of $1000 for individuals and $5000 for businesses.
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