Police are reminding the community of the continuing state-wide operation to enforce all public health orders, after a number of concerning breaches in the past 24 hours.
Officers across Sydney are focusing on compliance in every PAC and PD across the state, with 160 PINs issued in the past 24 hours. 55 of those were issued to individuals for not wearing a mask.
$7000 worth of fines were also issued to seven people after they were discovered having a birthday party at an office on George St, Sydney.
Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon, Metropolitan Field Operations, said police would continue to focus on enforcing all public health orders in every PAC and PD across the state.
"Not only are we continuing our high-visibility compliance operations, but we're following up every single report to Crime Stoppers too," Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said.
"Police are investigators and as some of the recent breaches show, if you are a repeat offender or we receive information retrospectively, we will go back and fully investigate every piece of information we receive to ensure community safety.
"Never has compliance with these Health Orders been more vital to the safety of our community, so I would urge everyone to stick to the Health Order and work together to stop the spread."
The Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott welcomed the decision to stand-up an Emergency Operations Centre in Bass Hill to support Greater Sydney.
"The Centre is run by highly-experienced government and non-government operators who know the Greater Sydney region and understand the needs of their people," Mr Elliott said.
"The people of Greater Sydney need to be reminded that police are working tirelessly to protect their families and loved ones from harm. But police will have zero tolerance for those carelessly flouting the orders.
"I urge everyone in the area to work with the team at the Emergency Operations Centre and police across the State to fight the spread of this disease," Mr Elliott said.
PINs issued in the last 24 hours include:
*A total of $7000 worth of fines were issued to seven people after they were discovered having a party inside an office suite on George Street, Sydney late last night. Officers from Sydney City PAC who were performing COVID compliance duties noticed a man outside a building on George Street. Officers approached the man and upon questioning led police to an office suite where a birthday party was taking place. The seven party goers were issued $1000 PINs for breaching the current Public Health Orders.
*A 21-year-old Merrylands man was issued with a PIN for travelling outside the 10km radius without a reasonable excuse. About 11.40am (Monday 19 July 2021), the man attended Bondi Police Station to speak with officers about a Traffic Infringement Notice he was issued the day before. Officers explained that was not a reasonable excuse for him to leave his area and directed him to immediately return to his home in Merrylands. A short time later he was seen standing on Gould Street, Bondi making no attempt to leave the area. Police approached and asked him again to leave. Soon after he was found exercising at the North Bondi outdoor gym area. He was then issued a PIN.
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.
