Police intend to issue up to 60 COVID infringement penalty notices (PINs) after officers were called to a party at Schofields overnight.
Officers from Quakers Hill Police Area Command were called to a home in Nottingham Street about 11.30pm (Saturday 18 July 2020), responding to complaints about a noisy party.
Police discovered more than 60 people had gathered at the property, in breach of the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 4) 2020. (The PHO restricts outdoor public gatherings of not more than 20 people, with a 20-person limit on visitors to a home.)
Assistance was sought from neighbouring commands from Mt Druitt, Hawkesbury, Blacktown, The Hills and Nepean, as well as the Police airwing, PolAir, a team from the Dog Unit, and OSG officers from North West and South West Metropolitan Regions, to manage the crowd many of whom were intoxicated.
OC spray was deployed when a brawl broke out inside the home involving 15 people, and officers entered the building.
Three males were taken to Blacktown Hospital, two for minor injuries sustained in the brawl and a third for the effects of alcohol.
Police intend to issue up to 60 people with COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) of $1000; 30 people were arrested after refusing a move-on direction, and of those 15 were taken to Riverstone Police Station where their identities were verified.
Those 30 people will also be issued with a separate TINS for failing to comply with a move-on direction.
Police have been told the house had been booked via an online rental company.
Inquiries are continuing.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or 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.
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