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Police have charged seven people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 45 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.

Yesterday’s charges:

• About 1am (Saturday 18 April 2020), police were called to Stuart Avenue, Wahroonga, after reports a 15-year-old man had been assaulted in a nearby park. Officers from Kuring Gai Police Area Command attended and following inquiries, two boys – both aged 16 – were arrested at homes in St Ives and Turramurra. One of the boys was charged with affray, not comply with noticed direction re S7/8/9 – COVID-19, and breach of bail. The second boy was charged with affray and not comply with noticed direction re S7/8/9 – COVID-19. They were both were refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (Sunday 19 April 2020).

• About 1.20pm (Saturday 18 April 2020), three males attended a home on Belgrave Esplanade, Sylvania, and allegedly threw a rock and a glass bottle at a window. The incident was reported to officers from Sutherland Shire Police Area Command and following inquiries, two boys – both aged 16 – were arrested at a Miranda shopping centre. They were both charged with destroy or damage property, three counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic), and not comply with noticed direction re S7/8/9 – COVID-19. They are due to appear at a children’s court on Wednesday 22 June 2020.

• About midnight (Saturday 18 April 2020), officers from Tweed/Byron Police District were patrolling Missingham Park, Ballina, and spoke to three men, before issuing them a warning about the current restrictions under the Public Health Act. Just before 2am the same day, police were called to Owen Street, Ballina, and spoke to five people – three men and two women – who were consuming alcohol. The group claimed they were fishing when warned about the current restrictions, before being moved on from the area. About 2.30am, police were called to Meldrum Park. A 21-year-old man refused to leave and was arrested. Following a struggle with officers, he was taken to Ballina Police Station and charged with not comply with noticed direction re S7/8/9 – COVID-19, furnish false or misleading information, refuse/fail to comply with direction under Part 14, resist officer in execution of duty, and breach of bail. He was refused bail to appear at Lismore Local Court today.

• About 1.45am (Saturday 18 April 2020), detectives from Redfern Region Enforcement Squad stopped and spoke with a 24-year-old man who was sitting in a stationary car outside a unit complex on Station Street, Newtown. During a search of his vehicle, officers allegedly located $41,180 in cash in a hidden compartment. The man was arrested and taken Newtown Police Station where he was charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime and not complying with noticed direction – COVID-19. He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today.

• Shortly before 3pm (Saturday 18 April 2020), officers from South Coast Highway Patrol noticed a Nissan patrol wagon with modifications travelling north on the Princes Highway. Shortly after, officers attended the home of the driver on Gunbar Way, Nowra. A 24-year-old man answered the door, and allegedly became aggressive towards the officer, before spitting at the male senior constable and assaulting him. Further police were called to the scene and the man was arrested. He was taken to Nowra Police Station and charged with seven offences including assault police, resist arrest (x2) and not comply with noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID-19. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Nowra Local Court on Monday 15 June 2020.

Yesterday’s PINs include:

• Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended a home on Nott Street, Merewether, at 12.50am, following reports of a party. Upon arrival, police observed six people sitting on an upstairs balcony area. Three people were directed to leave as it was not their place of residence. One of the men – aged 40 – allegedly refused to leave and yelled at police. He eventually complied and together with a 49-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman, they were issued a $1000 PIN for failing to comply with Ministerial Directions.

• Four men – aged 19, 23 and two aged 18 – travelling together in a vehicle were stopped by officers attached to Mid North Coast Police District around 10.45pm on Macleay Valley Way, South Kempsey. The 23-year-old man allegedly told police he had been picked up by friends in South West Rocks because he had recently lost his licence and needed to return to his home in Cessnock. All four occupants were issued $1000 PINs.

• Just after midnight, officers from Kings Cross Police Area Command stopped a McLaren 650S travelling on Ward Avenue, Potts Point. The driver, a 43-year-old Fairfield man, told officers he was driving to Woolloomooloo to get petrol. After being warned, he informed officers driving is a form of exercise. The man and his 60-year-old passenger were each issued a $1000 PIN. The driver allegedly told police “do what you want mate, I don’t care. This $1000 fine won’t hurt with my $15 million.”

• About 10.30am, officers from Auburn police Area Command were conducting patrols of Auburn Central Plaza when they stopped and spoke to a 27-year-old man. Police explained the current restrictions and the man left. Police returned to the plaza just before 3pm and spoke to the same man. He was issued a $1000 PIN after allegedly telling officers “I thought you just meant go for an hour.”

• About 8.40am, officers attached to Auburn Police Area Command attended a home on Sheffield Street, Auburn, and found four men congregating in a small room, with one man hiding behind the door. Only one of the four men, a 39-year-old, resides at the address and no one in the group – including a 25-year-old man from Guildford, a 36-year-old man from another Auburn address and a 40-year-old man from Fairfield East – are related. They were each issued a $1,000 PIN.

• About 12.30am, officers from Cumberland Police Area Command stopped and spoke to a 29-year-old man on Pendle Way, Pendle Hill. The man was issued a $1000 PIN after telling police he was out to go a visit a friend.

• About 2am, officers from Inner West Police Area Command stopped and spoke to a 19-year-old woman on Station Street, Enmore. The woman was issued a $1000 PIN after telling officers she was going to pay rent in Lakemba and then drive to Cabramatta to buy a pork roll.

• Just after 4pm, officers attached to Mt Druitt Police Area Command spoke with a 22-year-old man at a shopping centre on North Parade, Mt Druitt, about being in a public place without a reasonable excuse. The man had previously been warned and after telling police he was on his way to a friend’s house to “smoke weed” and was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.

• About 10.55am, officers attached to South Sydney Police Area Command were patrolling the Waterloo area when they observed a group of about 10 people sitting in a park on Cope Street. The group were all given a warning and left the park. At 2.15pm the same day, police observed two men from the group sitting in a park on Pitt Street with another group of people. All were warned and directed to move on. Shortly after, about 2.45pm, police observed the same two men – aged 71 and 77 – on Raglan Street and issued them with a $1000 PIN each.

• About 6.45pm, offices attached to Sydney City Police Area Command spoke with a 43-year-old man sitting near the intersection of George and Park streets, Sydney CBD. He was warned about being outside his place of residence and allegedly began yelling and swearing at police before trying to walk away. Officers placed the man under arrest, however, he started swinging his hands in the direction of the officers. The man was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station and charged with assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm and resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty. He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Sunday 19 April 2020). He was also issued a $1000 PIN for being out of home without reasonable excuse.

Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: . Information is treated in strict confidence.