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Police have charged eight people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 45 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) since the last update.

Charges:

• Just before 10pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), detectives from Fairfield City Police Area Command were travelling to conduct unrelated inquiries when they observed a man in the middle of Railway Parade, Canley Vale. The man asked officers for a lighter before being told to get off the roadway. When police asked why he was away from his home, the 23-year-old man said he was bored. He then allegedly became aggressive and abusive towards the officers, who subsequently got out of their vehicle and attempted to escort him off the road. The man allegedly thrashed around, resisting police. He was taken to Fairfield Police Station and charged with not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19, use offensive language in/near public place/school, resist officer in execution of duty, refuse/fail to comply with direction under Part 14. He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday 30 June 2020.

• About 4pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), an officer from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attended Lidcombe Railway Station to assist NSW Ambulance paramedics, who were treating an unconscious man. The man’s friend – a 42-year-old man – allegedly shoved the officer as he approached before a struggle ensued. The man was arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station, where he was charged with assault officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty and not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Friday 10 April 2020).

• Just before 10pm last night, a 33-year-old woman was driving a Holden Commodore on Main Road, Glendale, when it crashed into a traffic light at the intersection of Glendale Drive. It will be alleged the woman then took her three-year-old child out of the car and ran from the scene. Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District found the woman and child a short time later and arrested her. She allegedly failed to provide both a roadside breath-test and a subsequent breath analysis sample at Toronto Police Station. Inquiries revealed the woman’s other two-year-old child had been left unsupervised at home. Both children were placed into the care of a responsible person and a FACS notification was made. The woman was charged with:

– Negligent driving

– Not give particulars

– Refuse or fail to submit to breath test

– Refuse or fail to submit to breath analysis – 2nd offence

– Neglect child or young person in his/her care

– Not comply with noticed direction re: Section 7/8/9

She is due to appear before Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 30 June 2020.

The five other individuals charged have been highlighted in previous media releases.

PINs include:

• Yesterday morning (Thursday 9 April 2020), police were informed of a 55-year-old Elizabeth Bay man who had relocated to a holiday home at Pearl Beach, in contravention of a current ministerial direction. Police attended the home and spoke with the man, and issued him with a $1000 PIN a short time later. He has since returned to Sydney.

• Officers attached to Campbelltown City Police Area Command attended a unit on Chamberlain Street, Campbelltown about 10pm on Wednesday (8 April 2020), following reports of a brawl. On arrival, police found eight people inside the unit, seven of whom did not reside at the address. Following inquiries, police confirmed three men, aged 22, 20 and 19, had received cautions when police were called to the same unit on Thursday 2 April 2020 in response to a noise complaint. They were all issued with PINs for failing to comply with a ministerial direction. Police issued formal warnings to the other four and all were directed to return to their homes.

• Just before 10pm (Wednesday 8 April 2020), police stopped a vehicle on Robert Street, South Tamworth to conduct a roadside breath test. The driver, a 17-year-old girl and her two male passengers, aged 21 and 30, were unable to provide a reasonable excuse for not being home. Follow inquiries, police discovered that the men had already been fined for not complying with ministerial directions under the Public Health Act on Saturday 4 April 2020. They both received their second PIN for the same offence and the driver was given a caution.

• About 1.30am (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were patrolling Rathmines when they observed a motorcycle and car parked near the boat ramp at Styles Point Reserve. Police spoke with a 40-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman who provided differing versions as to why they were at the location, and officers were unable to establish ownership of the motorcycle. The bike was seized, and the pair was issued with $1000 PINs.

• About 12pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers attached to Nepean Police Area Command were conducting patrols in Kingswood when they approached two men and a woman on Aspen Street. Following inquiries, searches were conducted and the men, both aged 34, were allegedly found in possession of methylamphetamine. One man was charged with possess prohibited drug and issued a Future Court Attendance Notice. The second man was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug and matters related to an outstanding warrant. He will appear at Penrith Local Court on Wednesday 3 June 2020. Both men and the 21-year-old woman were also issued with PINs.

• About 1pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers spoke with a 34-year-old man on a train near Dapto, who was travelling without a ticket. The man told the officers he was going for a swim, but he did not have swimming gear. Checks revealed the man had previously been given two warnings for breaches of a ministerial direction, and during a subsequent search of the man, police seized a knife. He will be issued with a Court Attendance Notice for custody of a knife in a public place, a $1000 PIN, and Transport Infringement Notice for travel without valid ticket.

• Just before 1pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol were patrolling at Liverpool, when they stopped to speak with three people on Moore Street. No one in the group was able to provide a reasonable excuse for being out of home, and they were given a warning under the Public Health Act. After checks revealed that one of the women – aged 30 – had been warned the night before, she was issued a $1000 PIN.

• About 2pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers from Mt Druitt Police Area Command attended a shopping mall at Mt Druitt, following reports a group of people had gathered to drink alcohol. Police spoke with a group of six people at the location and issued warnings under the Public Health Act. Checks revealed that two of the men – aged 20 and 27 – had previously received two PINs, a 29-year-old man had received a PIN last week, while a fourth man – aged 31 – had received prior warnings. The four men were issued with a $1000 PIN before the group was given a move-on direction.

• About 2.40pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers from Richmond Police District were patrolling West Ballina when they observed a vehicle parked at the end of Burns Point Ferry Road overlooking the Richmond River. Police spoke with the occupants – a 61-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man – who advised they’d travelled from Byron Bay to go shopping. Following inquiries, officers issued the pair $1000 PINs.

• About 5pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers from South Coast Police District were attending an unrelated job at a Narooma address, when a 41-year-old man arrived to visit the occupants of the home. After speaking with the man, officers searched him and seized a small amount of cannabis. The man was issued with a Field Court attendance Notice for possessing a prohibited drug and a PIN for failing to comply with a noticed direction.

• About 6pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers from South Coast Police District attended a home on Leumeah Street, Sanctuary Point, following reports an AVO had been breached. Police spoke to a 19-year-old man, who is not a resident of the home. Inquiries revealed he had not breached an AVO, but his repeated attendance at the home was a breach of the Public Health Act. He was subsequently issued with a $1000 PIN before he returned home.

• A man and woman were issued PINs after police detected their vehicle travelling over 100km/h in an 80km zone on the M1 Motorway in Kiah about 6.10pm (Thursday 9 April 2020). The driver, a 38-year-old woman, was arrested after returning a positive roadside drug test. Upon searching the passenger, a 29-year-old man, police located a pipe allegedly concealed in his underwear. Neither could provide police with a reasonable excuse to why they were almost 300km away from their residence in the Wollongong area, and as a result they were issued with PINs for failing to comply with ministerial directions. The woman was also issued a traffic infringement for exceed speed over 10kph.

• About 6.30pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers attached to Mid North Coast Police District were conducting random breath testing on Macleay Valley Way in South Kempsey when they stopped a white Subaru Forrester and spoke with the driver, a 31-year-old woman. Inquiries revealed she had received a PIN for not complying with a ministerial direction on Sunday 5 April 2020. The woman, from East Kempsey, was issued a second PIN for breaching the Public Health Act. She was also issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for the possession of prohibited drugs and firework after police located methylamphetamine allegedly hidden in her bra and a firework in the glove box of the vehicle. She is due to due to appear at Kempsey Local Court on Monday 13 July 2020.

• About 6.30pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers attached to Kuring Gai Police Area Command were conducting patrols in Gordon when they saw seven young people smoking and drinking at a park on Werona Avenue. A 15-year-old girl was identified as having received two previous warnings for breaching the Public Health Act and was issued with a $1000 fine. The rest of the group were given cautions and directed to return home.

• About 7pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers from Brisbane Water Police Transport Command stopped and spoke to a 30-year-old man who was sitting near Gosford Railway Station. The man could not provide a reasonable excuse for being away from his Wyong home, and inquiries revealed he had received several warnings in previous days in relation to breaching a Public Health Order. He was issued with a $1000 PIN and given a move-on direction.

• About 9.15pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), a 34-year-old woman was spoken to at Quirindi by officers from Oxley Police District, and could not provide officers with a reasonable excuse for being out. She was given a move-on direction. About 30 minutes later, the woman was seen by police again a short distance away, having ignored their direction to return home. She was issued with a $1000 PIN.

Since 17 March 2020, police have issued 28 Court Attendance Notices, and 245 PINs for breaches of the Public Health Act.

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.