Breakdown of Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) in past 24 hours, NSW

A total of 12 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) were issued yesterday (Friday 3 April 2020) in relation to alleged breaches of the Public Health Act:

– About 6.40am, police were called to a home in Wagga Wagga following reports of a disturbance. Officers spoke with five men at the premises who were not residents of the home and couldn’t provide a legitimate reason for being there. The men – aged 21, 28, 31, and two aged 33 – were each searched, before being issued with an infringement notice and sent home. While at the home, officers found and seized methamphetamine and cannabis. Inquiries are continuing, with charges expected.

– About 3.20pm, officers from Liverpool Police Area Command were patrolling Macquarie Street Mall when they noticed a group of men sitting on a bench in the park. The men were all sitting on a bench that was fenced off with council tape, and displayed a sign indicating the area was closed due to the Federal Government regulations on social distancing. The group were approached by police who asked them to move along. Two of the men complied, however, the third man, aged 23, refused to leave and became abusive. He was issued with an infringement notice.

– Just before 2pm, a 37-year-old man and his 35-year-old female passenger were stopped by Bankstown Police on Bransgrove Road, Revesby. The man submitted to a roadside drug test which proved positive. Police searched the car and located a knife as well as four envelopes in the names of other people. The man was arrested and taken to Bankstown Police Station where he charged with custody of a knife in a public place, and goods in custody. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court 22 July 2020. For not having a legitimate reason for being in public, the pair were also issued infringement notices.

– A 34-year-old man was warned for failing to comply with a Public Health Order on Thursday (2 April 2020). About 10am the following day (Friday 3 April 2020) the same man was seen in Darlinghurst, allegedly swearing and yelling in the street. He was charged with offensive language and issued with a PIN for breaching the Public Health Act.

– About 3.40pm the Fairfield Proactive Crime Team saw two men, aged 54 and 40, sitting closely together drinking alcohol in a Fairfield plaza. Police issued the pair with infringements, as they had spoken to the same men earlier that day and warned them about not complying with the Public Health Act.

– At 10.20pm on Thursday 2 April 2020, police attached to Richmond Police District pulled over a car travelling on Ballina Road, Goonellabah. The 32-year-old man was subjected to a breath test, which returned a positive reading. He was arrested and taken to Ballina Police Station and submitted to a breath analysis returning a reading of 0.132. He was charged with mid-range PCA and was granted conditional bail to appear in Ballina Local Court on 23 June 2020. The man informed police that he had returned from Singapore on 22 March 2020 and was self-isolating: however, he had left the house and did not have a reasonable excuse. For breaching the Public Health Act, he also received an infringement.

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.

/Public Release. View in full here.