Police have issued a total of 16 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for non-compliance with COVID-19 Public Health Orders across the weekend.
In addition to the nine people fined following indoor gatherings at East Jindabyne and Maroubra that exceeded the 20-person limit, as reported yesterday (Sunday 2 August 2020), police issued another seven PINs following eight incidents of failing to comply with noticed direction in relation to section 7/8/9-COVID-19.
From 5.30am on Friday (31 July 2020), officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were patrolling Hyde Park South and monitoring a group who had gathered for an unauthorised public assembly. When the group exceeded 20 people about 11am, a move-on direction was issued to the spokesman before formal directions under the Public Health Act were issued to each participant. After the spokesman refused to comply with directions and attempted to incite the rest of the group, he was arrested. He then refused to provide his details and was subsequently taken to Day Street Police Station. The 47-year-old man was identified and issued with a $1000 PIN.
At a second, yet unrelated, unauthorised public assembly at a university at Camperdown, officers from Inner West Police Area Command were monitoring a group from about 11.30am on Friday. After numbers in the group increased to about 40 people, police issued a formal direction under the Public Health Act. Two men, aged 34 and 38, failed to comply with the move-on direction and were each issued a $1000 PIN.
Just after midday on Friday, officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command attended a hotel on Scott Street, Liverpool, to speak with a 44-year-old woman after it was determined she provided false compassionate reasons on her entry permit to travel into NSW from Victoria. Police informed the woman her application had been rejected, her permit was invalid and directed her to return to Victoria. She was also issued a $1000 PIN.
As part of proactive compliance operations, officers from the Mid North Coast Police District attended a licensed premises on East Street, Crescent Head, about 7.30pm on Friday. Police spoke with the male licensee about their COVID-Safe Plan and issues raised during a previous inspection. While conducting the walk-through, the officers noted that the premises was full, but only nine names were recorded on the register. Further, tables and chairs had not been removed to ensure physical distancing and it was not being observed.
The 50-year-old man was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.
About 2.45am on Saturday (1 August 2020), officers from Tweed/Byron Police District were called to a house party on Melaleuca Drive, Mullumbimby Creek. Police saw a large number of people inside and outside the house, none of whom were appropriately physically distanced. The 53-year-old male resident told police he was aware there were too many attendees but wasn’t worried because he believes Coronavirus is just a flu. The group was dispersed, and he was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.
Officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were patrolling the Springdale area on Saturday, when they stopped a vehicle on Burley Griffin Way just before 11am. Checks revealed the 24-year-old female driver was disqualified from driving and was in breach of her self-isolation requirements as she had returned from Victoria on 20 July. Police issued the woman with a $1000 PIN and a Court Attendance Notice for drive while disqualified before directing her to return home to complete the self-isolation period.
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.
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