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Police have charged five people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 25 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.

Yesterday’s charges:

• Just before 1am (Wednesday 15 April 2020), officers from Sydney City Police Area Command stopped and spoke to an 18-year-old man on Allen Street, near Experiment Street, Pyrmont. He allegedly told police he was going to “hang out with a mate in Kings Cross” and during a subsequent search he was allegedly found in possession of cannabis and a prescription medication. Checks revealed the man was issued a warning under the Public Health Act the day prior (Tuesday 14 April 2020). He was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug and not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. The Pyrmont man was granted conditional bail to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 8 June 2020.

• About midday (Wednesday 15 April 2020), a man attended a golf club on Marsh Street, Arncliffe, and verbally threatened two employees before leaving. Officers from St George Police Area Command were notified and a short time later, a 46-year-old man was arrested at a park off the Princes Highway, Wolli Creek. He was taken to St George Police Station and charged with two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm (personal), and not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. The Parramatta man has since been taken to hospital for assessment.

• Just before 1pm (Wednesday 15 April 2020) police arrested a 27-year-old man at a basketball stadium on Ralph Place, Mount Druitt following his fifth breach of ministerial directions under the Public Health Act. The man received a warning on Thursday 2 April 2020 for failing to provide a reasonable excuse for being away from home. Despite this he repeated the offence the following day (Friday 3 April 2020), then twice again last week resulting in three PINs being issued. On each occasion the man was allegedly found consuming alcohol in a public place with others. Following his arrest, the man was taken to Mount Druitt Police Station and charged with larceny, enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse and not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court today (Thursday 16 April 2020).

• Yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 15 April 2020), police from the Eastern Beaches Police Area Command approached a 39-year-old man who was drinking alcohol in a park on Little Bay Road, Little Bay. Checks revealed the man had been given two warnings earlier in the month for breaching isolation rules. He was issued with an infringement notice on 14 April for failing to comply with direction. The man was arrested and taken to Maroubra Police Station and charged with not comply with direction. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Waverley Local Court on 1 July 2020.

• About 6.20pm yesterday (Wednesday 15 April 2020), officers from Tweed/Byron Police District attended Florence Street, Tweed Heads, after receiving information about a man who had arrived in a car acting aggressively. The man returned a positive roadside breath test, before being taken to Tweed Heads Police Station, where he allegedly refused a breath analysis. He was charged with breach of bail, refuse breath analysis, drive unregistered vehicle and unlicensed driver. The man had been issued with a $1000 PIN on 7 April 2020 for failing to comply with a ministerial direction. He was also charged with not comply with noticed direction and refused bail, to appear at Lismore Local Court today (16 April 2020).

Yesterday’s PINs include:

• Infringement notices were issued to two women aged 23 and 37, about 8.30pm last night (Wednesday 15 April 2020) after police from Sydney City Police Area Command saw them sitting in a car in Sussex Street. Both women had been issued warnings in the days prior.

• A 23-year-old man was issued his second infringement notice under the Public Health Act. About 7.15pm yesterday (Wednesday 15 April 2020), officers attached to Blacktown Police Area Command saw a group of people sitting on a stairwell at Colo Lane, Blacktown. The group ran from officers, and the 23-year-old man found nearby told officers he had been going to the doctors but did not know the location of the practice or the name of the doctor. He was issued with a $1000 PIN.

• A 21-year-old man was issued a fourth PIN, after being stopped by police on Lawson St Penrith. About 4.15pm yesterday (Wednesday 15 April 2020), the man told officers attached to Nepean Police Area Command that he had been at a friend’s birthday. He was issued with a $1000 PIN. A passenger in his vehicle was also issued a $1000 fine.

• Two people have been issued fines for travelling from Victoria to use ‘Return and Earn’ facilities. About 9.20am yesterday (Wednesday 15 April 2020), a 61-year-old man was issued a fine after travelling from Wangaratta, Victoria, to Corowa to return cans and bottles. About 3.40pm, officers from Murray River Police District spoke to a woman also at a Corowa ‘Return and Earn’ facility, the 24-year-old had travelled from Yarrawonga, Victoria, and was issued a $1000 PIN for non-essential travel.

• Four men have been issued fines, after being seen drinking in a park on Carinya Avenue, St Marys. About 1.30am yesterday (Wednesday 15 April 2020), officers attached to Nepean Police Area Command observed the men, aged 20, 25, 26 and 28, in Lang park and they failed to provide a reasonable excuse. All four were issued $1000 PINS and one of the men was issued a Court Attendance Notice for breaching his bail conditions.

• Two women have been issued infringement notices after travelling to a caravan park at Broadwater. Officers from Richmond Police District were notified the two women, aged 19 and 29, had travelled to the caravan park from Taree. About 10.20am the pair were spoken to by police and were issued $1000 PINs for non-essential travel.

• About 1.45am yesterday (Wednesday 15 April 2020), a security guard alerted police that a group of five was climbing scaffolding on a building site at Bathurst Street, Sydney. Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command attended and spoke to five males, aged 14, 15, 16, 17 and 21, all from Kellyville. The group admitted to climbing the building with the intention of taking photos. The 21-year-old was issued an infringement for breaching the Public Health Act and trespass, while the juveniles were dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.

• About 5pm yesterday (Wednesday 15 April 2020), officers from Tweed/Bryon Police District stopped a vehicle at Fawcett Street, Brunswick Heads, and spoke to the three occupants. The 20-year-old driver failed to provide a reasonable excuse for travel, telling officers he answers to a higher authority. He had previously been issued a warning under the Ministerial Direction and was issued with a $1000 PIN. The other two occupants, men aged 46 and 56, were given warnings.

• About 4.20pm yesterday (Wednesday 15 April 2020), a 29-year-old man was stopped by offices attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District, riding a bike. The man told police he was going to a friend’s place to “chill” and was aware of the restrictions in place. He was issued a $1000 PIN.

• A two teenage boys have been issued infringements for failing to provide a reasonable excuse for being out of home at Carrington Street, Woonona. It is the second time the 15-year-old and 17-year-old have been issued $1000 PINs while visiting each other.

• Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District issued an infringement notice to a 42-year-old man at Morisset after he was issued multiple warnings. The man was warned twice yesterday, at 3.50am and 4.30pm in different locations on the Central Coast, for being out of home without a reasonable excuse. At about 6.20pm he was issued a $1000 PIN Gateway Boulevard, Morisset.

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.