Two people were charged and three Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) were issued yesterday in relation to various breaches of Public Health Orders across NSW in recent days.
About 9.30am yesterday (Tuesday 1 September 2020), officers from Operation Border Closure were conducting permit checks at a checkpoint on the Hume Highway, South Albury, when they stopped a 27-year-old male driver allegedly attempting to travel into NSW without a permit.
The man was advised to return to Victoria, but after being observed not taking the returning route, he was stopped again and directed to take the most direct route back to Victoria.
After again failing to return to Victoria, the man was stopped again and arrested.
The Western Australian man was taken to Albury Police Station and charged with fail to comply with noticed direction in relation to section 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
He is due to appear at Albury Local Court on Monday 28 September 2020.
Following the man's release from police custody, he was escorted back across the border into Victoria.
The details of another arrest were issued yesterday, which relate to a 27-year-old woman who was charged after allegedly hiding in the back of a truck in Victoria and entering NSW without a valid permit at the weekend.
The Penalty Infringement Notices include:
A 27-year-old woman was issued two $1000 PINs in less than three hours after attempting to enter NSW without a valid permit at two different checkpoints. She was first stopped about 12.40am yesterday (Tuesday 1 September 2020), at a checkpoint on the Sturt Highway, Buronga, where she was denied entry as she did not have a permit. After attempting to enter NSW regardless, she was issued with a $1000 PIN and escorted back into Victoria. She was then stopped at the checkpoint on Abbotsford Road, Curlwaa, about 3am and denied entry but refused to return to Victoria. She was issued with a second $1000 PIN and escorted into Victoria.
A 28-year-old man has been issued a $1000 PIN after providing an entry permit in someone else's name at the Wodonga Point checkpoint in Albury, just after midnight yesterday (Tuesday 1 September 2020). When asked by officers to provide identification, the man could not, and eventually admitted he had provided a false name and a permit belonging to someone else. He was issued a PIN for not provide/give false info – COVID-19 Border Control and was also issued additional infringements for goods in custody, stealing and being in possession of a knife.
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.
