Breakdown of latest Public Health Act charges and Penalty Infringement Notices

Police have charged six people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 55 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) since the last update.

Charges:

• About 8.30am yesterday (Monday 13 April 2020), officers from Mid North Coast Traffic & Highway Patrol Command observed a Mitsubishi ute travelling in excess of the speed limit at Greenhill. Officers attempted to pull the car over however it allegedly failed to stop and police initiated a pursuit. The pursuit came to a stop a short time later after police deployed road spikes. The man was arrested and subjected to a roadside breath test, which returned a negative result, and a roadside drug test, which allegedly returned a positive indication to methamphetamine. Further inquiries also revealed the 32-year-old man had already been issued with three PINs for breaching a ministerial direction. He has been charged with police pursuit/not stop/drive dangerously, drive while disqualified and not comply with noticed direction. He was refused bail to appear at Port Macquarie Local Court today (Tuesday 14 April 2020).
• Just before 3pm yesterday, officers from Police Transport Command were patrolling Hurstville Railway Station when they saw a man on the upper level of a train consuming alcohol. Police spoke with the 22-year-old and during the interaction, he got into a struggle with the officers. He was arrested and taken to Sutherland Police Station, where he was charged with resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, drink alcohol on bus, ferry, train or in public area, travel without valid ticket, and not comply with noticed direction. He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday 13 May 2020.
• About 10.15am yesterday, police were patrolling Canley Heights when they observed a man, who was known to them, allegedly driving a vehicle despite not holding a licence. Police spoke with the 40-year-old man, who was subsequently arrested and taken to Fairfield Police Station, where he was charged with never licensed person drive vehicle on road, use offensive language in/near public place/school, and not comply with noticed direction. He was also charged with recklessly cause grievous bodily harm in relation to an alleged assault on Wednesday 4 March 2020. He was refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court today.
• Just after midnight yesterday, police were called to Port Kembla Railway Station after security officers observed a man walking on the tracks. On arrival, police spoke with a 43-year-old man, and further inquiries revealed he was in breach of his bail conditions. He was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he was charged with go onto or remain on running lines, not comply with noticed direction and breach of bail. He was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court today.
• About 12.40am yesterday, officers from Mid North Coast Traffic & Highway Patrol were conducting patrols of South Kempsey when they stopped a vehicle for the purposes of an RBT. Police spoke with the driver and two passengers, who could not give a valid reason for being out of their homes at Port Macquarie. Further inquiries also revealed one of the passengers, a 20-year-old woman, had been warned twice previously for failing to comply with a ministerial direction. When police spoke to the woman about this, it's alleged she attempted to flee, before making several threats towards officers. She was taken to Kempsey Police Station where she was charged with assault police officer in execution of duty, intimidate police officer in execution of duty and not comply with noticed direction. She was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Kempsey Local Court on Monday 22 June 2020.
• Yesterday, police attended an address at Canley Vale in relation to an investigation into a number of alleged vehicle thefts. A 14-year-old teenager was arrested and taken to Fairfield Police Station, where he was charged with three counts of recklessly deal with proceeds of crime, be carried in conveyance without consent of owner, dishonestly obtain property by deception and not comply with noticed direction. He was refused bail to appear at a Children's Court today.

PINs include:

• Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District issued infringement notices to a 72-year-old man and 46-year-old woman, both from Sydney. About 5pm yesterday (Monday 13 April 2020), the pair were stopped at Dora Creek and informed police they intended to fish. They were told that fishing was not a valid reason to travel to a regional area, and were asked to move on. Officers interacted with the pair again 15-minutes later at Rocky Point Road, Eraring, and both were issued a $1000 PIN.
• About 4.40pm yesterday, officers from Richmond Police District observed four people drinking in a park at Cullen Street, Nimbin. Inquiries revealed a 27-year-old man in the group had travelled from Casino. When asked, the man told police he travelled to Nimbin because he was bored. The man also told officers that he was aware of the current ministerial direction, but that he did not believe in Coronavirus. He was issued a $1000 PIN.
• About 12.50pm yesterday, officers from Richmond Police district spoke to two men at Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head, and warned them they were in breach of the Public Health Order. Fifteen minutes later the pair, aged 22 and 25, were spoken to again at the Pat Morton Lookout, Lennox Head, and they were both issued with a $1000 PIN.
• About 2.10pm yesterday officers from Richmond Police District spoke to a man in a hire car at a boat ramp on Riverside Drive, West Ballina. The 32-year-old failed to provide a reasonable excuse for being there and was issued a $1000 PIN. He was also served with an outstanding Firearms Prohibition Order and Weapons Prohibition Order.
• About 4.10pm yesterday, officers from Richmond Police district detected two vans with South Australian number plates at Sharpes Beach carpark, Skennars Head. A 56-year-old woman and 54-year-old man were issued move on directions, but around an hour later police returned and the pair had not moved. They were both issued a $1000 PIN.
• Just after 11.30am yesterday, officers from Fairfield City Police Area Command were patrolling near Fairfield Railway Station when they saw two men, aged 54 and 40, sitting in the nearby park. Both men could not provide a reasonable excuse for being out of their homes and were issued PINs. The 54-year-old man had also been issued a PIN on Saturday 4 April 2020.
• About 8.20am yesterday, officers from Riverina Police District stopped a car on Rosedale Road, near the Hume Highway, at Mount Adrah, and spoke with the 51-year-old male driver. The man told police he was driving back to Victoria after visiting family members nearby. He was issued a $1000 PIN.
• About 10am yesterday, officers from Fairfield City Police Area Command attended a home in Canley Vale and spoke with a 43-year-old man, who did not reside at the location. It's alleged the man had attended the property to purchase drugs. He was issued a PIN for failing to comply with noticed direction and investigations are continuing.
• About 12.20pm yesterday, Albury police spoke with two men – aged 35 and 24 – outside a house on Eastern Circuit, East Albury. Both men stated they were at the location to inquire about a loan. When questioned about the loan, the men could not provide further information and officers explained it was not a valid reason to be out in public as they were not at a financial institution. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and police allegedly located cannabis and a knife. The older man was charged with custody of knife in public place and possess prohibited drug. Both men were issued $1000 PINs for being out of home without a reasonable excuse.
• About 9am yesterday, officers from Oxley Police District stopped a vehicle on Henry Street, Werris Creek, and spoke with the 41-year-old male driver. Checks revealed the man had been warned under the Public Health Act last week and was breaching his bail. Despite the previous warnings the man told police he thought he'd be alright this time. He was issued a Court Attendance Notice for variation application notice after breach and a $1000 PIN for breach of COVID-19 direction.
• About 9pm yesterday, officers from Central North Police District stopped a vehicle on Mitchell Street, Bourke, and spoke with the occupants – two women aged 21 and 25, and a 25-year-old man. The younger woman, who had previously received warnings under the Public Health Act, could not provide a reasonable excuse for being out again and was issued a $1000 PIN. The older woman and man were issued warnings.
• About 5.40pm, officers from Wollongong Police Transport Command, were patrolling Stuart Park, Wollongong. Police saw two men having a BBQ and drinking alcohol in the park. Checks by police were conducted that showed one of the men was given a warning the previous day for failing to comply with the Public Health Order at Central Railway Station. The 30-year-old man was issued a PIN, while the other man was given a warning.
• About 8.15am on Sunday (12 April 2020), officers from Mid North Coast Police District issued a warning to a 23-year-old woman after she was located hanging out with friends by the Macleay River at River Street, West Kempsey, and not following social distancing regulations. About 5pm the same day, the woman was found again by the same river with friends and was issued a $1000 PIN for failing to comply with noticed direction.
• Officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped a vehicle on Duri Road, West Tamworth, just after 2pm on Sunday, and spoke to the five occupants. The group told police they were hanging out and going for a drive. Subsequent checks revealed three of the five had been warned for doing the same thing on previous occasions. Police issued $1000 PINs to three men, aged 19, 21 and 24, while the other two individuals were given warnings under the Public Health Act.
• About 11.15pm on Sunday, officers from Parramatta Police Area Command stopped and spoke to a 23-year-old man at Bondi Beach car park. The man told police he had been to buy McDonalds at Mascot and wanted to get out a bit. The man later claimed that he was there to exercise despite the time of the night and the fact that he was wearing thongs. The man was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.
• About 2.45pm on Saturday (11 April 2020), officers from Riverina Police District were patrolling the Ashmont area when they stopped and spoke with a 29-year-old man on Mumford Street. During a search of the man, police located and seized prohibited drugs. The man told officers he was dropping off some fast food to a friend but had instead allegedly purchased drugs. He was issued a PIN and investigations are continuing.

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.