Breakdown of latest Public Health Act charges and Penalty Infringement Notices, NSW

Police have charged three people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 52 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) since the last update.

Charges:

• Just after 2pm yesterday (Tuesday 14 April 2020) officers from Inner West Police Area Command saw a man known to them on Enmore Road, Newtown. Officers were aware the man had previously been issued with two formal warnings and one $1000 PIN for failing to comply with a ministerial direction. After a short interaction the 45-year-old man was arrested and taken to Newtown Police Station, where he was charged with not comply with noticed direction. He was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Wednesday 15 April 2020).
• On Monday (13 April 2020) a 52-year-old man attended Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where he was tested for COVID-19. He was told by health officials to self-isolate for 48 hours while he awaited his test results. About 1.30pm the next day (Tuesday 14 April 2020), officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command attended the man’s residence on a proactive compliance check, where they allegedly witnessed him walk out of his home. The man advised officers he was going to the shops and then to a friend’s house. When police asked him why he wasn’t self-isolating as directed, the man allegedly told officers he didn’t care, and he could leave his house whenever he wanted to. The man was arrested and taken to Maroubra Police Station where he was charged with not comply with noticed direction. He was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Wednesday 15 April 2020).
• At about 6.45pm on Monday (13 April 2020) saw a man walking through the Bourke township. Officers from Central North Police District asked the man why he was out of his home and he allegedly told them he was locked out and was attempting to find his keys. A short time later, just after midnight (Tuesday 14 April 2020), police sighted the man nearby. When he was questioned, police will allege he said he was helping his friend who was locked out to find his keys, in contradiction to his earlier statement. Further inquiries revealed he had already been issued with three warnings and one $1000 PIN for breaching a ministerial direction. The man was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for not comply with noticed direction and is due to appear at Bourke Local Court on 11 June 2020.

PINs include:

• About 3.30pm on Monday (13 April 2020), officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were called to a unit complex in Distillery Drive, Pyrmont, following reports of a social gathering in breach of the public health order. On arrival, officers found a group of people at the property holding an Easter party. Five women – aged 30, 29, 27, 26 and 21 – and a 28-year-old man were issued PINs for failing to comply with noticed direction.
• Eight people have been issued with PINs by police from Central North PD after they were found where burnouts had allegedly been conducted at Cobar last week. Police had been investigating the incident after receiving a driving complaint on Lerida Street about 11.20pm (Monday 6 April 2020). Officers found two unregistered Commodores with blown rear tyres, as well as a ute and a 4WD. They have now issued PINs to six men – one aged 18, three aged 20, two aged 25 – as well as a 16-year-old boy and a 35-year-old woman, all from Cobar.
• About 5.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 14 April 2020), officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District were called to Pilot Street, Yamba, following reports of a group of youths in a vehicle creating a disturbance. Officers spoke to a 19-year-old man who said he was driving to visit friends and members of his family. He was issued with a $1000 PIN. He was also charged with breach of bail and will appear at Lismore Local Court today (Wednesday 15 April 2020).
• A 22-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man both from Cobar have been issued with PINs for breaching a Public Health Order after they were stopped for an RBT on Lerida Road, Cobar, about 4.15pm on Monday (13 April 2020). The male driver tested negative, but neither was able to provide a reasonable excuse for travelling.
• About 9am yesterday (14 April 2020), officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command spoke with a man on Sadleir Avenue at Heckenberg. When questioned by police, the 26-year-old man told officers he was going to see a friend for relationship advice. He was given a formal warning for failing to comply with a public health order and directed to go home. About 10 minutes later, police stopped the man again after he failed to comply and issued him with a $1000 PIN.
• Around 1.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 14 April 2020) officers from Newcastle City Police District spoke with a man at Broadmeadow Railway Station. When asked by officers why he was out of his home, the 24-year-old said he was aware of the current COVID-19 restrictions but had to get out as he was sick of being at home. He was issued with a $1000 PIN.
• About 6.15pm on Monday (13 April 2020), officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command were called to Roulstone Avenue, Belrose, after reports of youths loitering in the area. Police spoke with an 18-year-old teenager and gave him a formal warning. Further inquiries revealed he had been given warnings on two other occasions, and officers subsequently issued him with a $1000 PIN.
• A 53-year-old man from Tharbogan and a 23-year-old man from Yoogali were spoken to by police from Central North PD after they were found at truck stop on the Mitchell Highway at about 12pm Saturday (11 April 2020). The group had been spoken to by police twice previously. The two men were issued with $1000 PINs.
• Two men have been issued with PINs and four have been warned after police from Central North PD were told a group of people were gathered on Clugoa Street, Bourke, about 6.30am Sunday (12 April 2020). Most of the group dispersed when police arrived; however, two men, aged 18 and 26, and both from Bourke, were identified as having been warning previously and were issued with fines.
• A 28-year-old Victorian man has been issued with a $1000 PIN after his campervan was stopped on Head Street, Forster, on Monday (13 April 2020). The man had been warned the previous day after he was found in at a camping ground at Tuncurry.
• A 64-year-old Woollahra man has been issued with a $1000 PIN after he allegedly breached the Public Health Order when he was found on Boomerang Beach, 20km south of Forster, about midday Monday (13 April 2020). The man informed police he had been on the beach for two hours using his mobile phone.
• A 20-year-old Parramatta man has been issued with a $1000 PIN by officers from Mt Druitt PAC after he was found drinking wine while sitting in a camping chair in a commuter carpark at North Parade, Mt Druitt, just after 1.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 14 April 2020). The man had been given a warning by police about 11.30am.
• Officers from Tweed/Byron Police District stopped a Toyota van travelling on Kennedy Drive at Tweed Heads over its alleged faulty taillights about 3pm on Friday (10 April 2020). Officers spoke with the driver, a 42-year-old man, who told them he was going to visit a friend nearby. The man was issued infringement notices for driving an unregistered vehicle, not updating his licence details, no functioning break lights, and for not complying with noticed direction.
• About 9.45pm yesterday (Tuesday 14 April 2020), officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command were called to Bunnerong Road at La Perouse, following reports of a man walking around in an intoxicated state. The 39-year-old Randwick man could not provide a reasonable excuse as to why he was not at home. Following inquiries, police discovered he had been warned for breaching the public health order on both Thursday 9 April 2020 and Sunday 12 April 2020. He was issued a $1000 PIN for failing to comply with noticed direction.
• Just before 2am yesterday (Tuesday 14 April 2020), officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command stopped a vehicle on Maroubra Road, near Mons Avenue, at Maroubra and spoke with the driver, a 29-year-old man. The man told officers he was driving to Wollongong for a visit. He was issued a PIN for failing to comply with noticed direction.
• About 1.10am yesterday (Tuesday 14 April 2020), officers from Murray River Police District were patrolling the Albury area when they spoke with a 30-year-old man near on Creek Street. The man could not provide a reasonable excuse as to why he was not at home and was issued a PIN.
• About 11.45pm on Monday (13 April 2020), officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command noticed a Ford Fiesta allegedly travelling over the speed limit on Mandarin Street, Fairfield East. The vehicle allegedly failed to stop for officers and a pursuit was initiated. The car stopped a short distance away on Lisbon Street, where the driver and passenger, both aged 17, were arrested. A 45-year-old relative arrived at the scene and it’s alleged he became aggressive towards police. He has been charged with hindering police and is due to appear before Fairfield Local Court on Tuesday 30 June 2020. The 17-year-old driver was issued with Traffic Infringement Notices for Learner Not Display L Plates as prescribed, Learner Not Accompanied by Licensed Driver, Class A Motor Vehicle exceed Speed Limit – Over 20 km/h. Both 17-year-olds were also issued $1000 PINS in relation to the Public Health Act.
• About 3.30pm on Sunday (12 April 2020), officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were patrolling Parkway Avenue, Raymond Terrace, when they stopped and spoke to the occupants of a Mitsubishi Mirage sedan. The two men – aged 40 and 47 – did not have a reasonable excuse for being out and were given a warning to return home. Officers stopped the vehicle again a short time later after they failed to comply with this direction and issued both men with PINs.
• About 8.30pm on Friday (10 April 2020), officers from Port Stephens Highway Patrol were patrolling Kingston parade, Heatherbrae, when they stopped a 31-year-old male who was not able to provide police with a reasonable excuse for his travel. He was issued with $1000 PIN.
• About 9pm yesterday (Tuesday 14 April 2020), officers from Richmond Police District located a 30-year-old man on River Street, Ballina. The officer recognised the man from an interaction with him on Tuesday 7 April 2020, where he was warned about returning to his hometown in Maclean. The man was not able to come up with a valid excuse for being in the area, informing police that he simply preferred the location. He was issued with $1000 PIN.
• About 12.05am yesterday (Tuesday 14 April 2020), an officer from Quakers Hill Police Area Command issued a warning to an 18-year-old man for sitting his car at Glenwood Reserve, Blacktown, without a valid reason. The man was given a move on direction to return home. About 12.30am police returned to the location and found the man had not moved. He was issued with $1000 PIN.

Since 17 March 2020, police have issued 66 Court Attendance Notices and 560 PINs for breaches of the Public Health Act.

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.