A man will re-appear in court today after being charged with providing false details at a border checkpoint, while two others were charged for illegally crossing the border, and 31 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) were issued for other COVID-19 breaches at the weekend.
Officers from Operation Border Control stopped a Ford Focus at the Wodonga Place checkpoint at South Albury about 8.30am on Friday (18 September 2020), and spoke with the occupants – a 27-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman.
The man presented a 'child access and care arrangement' permit stating he had dropped the children off in Victoria and was returning to NSW, while the woman presented a permit, which only allowed her entry via Sydney Airport.
Police noted that the vehicle was not equipped with child restraints and the man provided different names for the children while talking with different officers and could not recall their ages or dates of birth.
Following further inquiries, police searched the man and his vehicle, locating and seizing a butterfly knife, a folding knife, a replica Glock pistol, a wooden mace, a tomahawk and drug paraphernalia.
The man was arrested and taken to Albury Police Station, where he was charged with not provide/give false etc info – COVID-19 Border Control, possess unregistered firearm-pistol, custody of knife in public place, have custody of an offensive implement in a public place and two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.
He was refused bail and is due to re-appear at Albury Local Court today (Monday 21 September 2020).
The woman was refused entry to NSW and directed to return to Victoria.
As previously reported, a Victorian couple were charged with fraud, property and drug offences after alleging hiding in a utility to enter NSW without valid permits earlier this month.
The 31-year-old man and 35-year-old woman were arrested at Mathoura by officers from Murray River Police District about 4pm on Friday (18 September 2020).
The pair have been refused bail to next appear at Griffith Local Court on Wednesday (23 September 2020).
In a separate and unrelated incident, officers from Tweed/Byron Police District were called to a park on South Beach Road, Brunswick Heads, about 7pm yesterday (Sunday 20 September 2020), following reports of a large gathering.
On arrival, police could hear loud drums and observed about 100 people dancing, who also noticed the police's arrival and ran from the location.
Three people were stopped by police, with one man – aged 45 – initially refusing to provide his details. After being advised he would be arrested if he refused to provide identification, the man produced his driver's licence.
Following inquiries, police issued $1000 PINs to the 45-year-old man, a 42-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman and directed them to leave the area.
Additionally – also as previously reported – 28 people will be issued $1000 PINs after being located at a house party at Bondi Junction about 1.20am on Saturday (19 September 2020), which was in breach of the Public Health Order.
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.
