Breakdown of latest Public Health Act charges and Penalty Infringement Notices

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

Charges:

• About 1pm (Wednesday 8 April 2020), officers attached to Inner West Police Area Command spoke to a 58-year-old man on King Street, Newtown in a current alcohol-free zone. He was allegedly consuming alcohol and speaking to another man. Further inquiries revealed the man had received a PIN for not complying with a noticed direction the day before (Tuesday 7 April 2020). He was issued with a second PIN for failing to comply with COVID-19 restrictions and directed to move on. Police returned to the location about 6.25pm and the 58-year-old was observed allegedly urinating in public. He was arrested and taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with fail to comply with section 7/8/9 under the Public Health Act, and offensive behaviour. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Newtown Local Court on Thursday 25 June 2020.

PINs include:

• A woman has received a PIN after ignoring a warning issued to her 20 minutes earlier for gathering in a group of more than two. About 4.40pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers attached to Police Transport Command spoke to five people congregating on The Crescent, Fairfield. The group was given cautions for failing to comply with a ministerial direction and asked to move on. About 5pm, police approached another group of four people a short distance away. Among that group was an 18-year-old woman who had received a caution 20 minutes prior. Police issued her a PIN and directed that the group separate and return to their homes.

• Just before 10pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), a motorcyclist was stopped by police on Oxford Street, Gateshead. Officers spoke with the 36-year-old man, who allegedly provided multiple conflicting reasons for not being home before stating he was on his way to help a friend fix a bike. The officers deemed his reasons for travel as non-essential and issued the man with a $1000 PIN.

• About 10pm on Tuesday (7 April 2020), officers from South Coast Police District attempted to pull over a vehicle on Eucalyptus Avenue, Worrigee, when the car stopped in a driveway and the 35-year-old male driver attempted to flee. He was stopped and spoken to along with his 26-year-old female passenger. Checks of the man's licence revealed he was disqualified from driving until March 2021. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located suspected prohibited drugs and drug paraphernalia, which was seized for further examination. The man was given a court attendance notice for drive while disqualified and both he and his female passenger received $1000 PINs for failing to comply with the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW).

• At 10.50pm on Tuesday (7 April 2020), officers from South Coast Police District were conducting a proactive patrol at Sanctuary Point when they observed a 20-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy approaching a home on Idlewild Avenue. After officers spoke with the pair and advised them they were in breach of a ministerial direction, the man ran away. During a subsequent search of the teen, police allegedly located and seized MDMA. While this was occurring, the man returned to the street and refused to go home. The teen was taken home and dealt with under the Young Offenders Act, while the man was issued with $1000 PIN.

• Two teenagers have been issued PINs following an investigation into an alleged negligent driving incident in the state's central west. About midnight on Saturday (4 April 2020), a Holden Commodore came to rest near flood waters on the Kidman Highway, Cobar. The driver waved down a Toyota Hilux for assistance; however, the driver of the Hilux allegedly circled around the Commodore several times, flooding it with more water. Later that morning, police found the Hilux bogged in mud off Bourke Road, Cobar, with five people inside. Two of the occupants ran, and officers from Central North Police District spoke with three remaining teenagers. A 16-year-old girl was returned to her Cobar home and issued with a formal warning for failing to comply with a ministerial direction. Two 17-year-old boys were taken to Cobar Police Station, where the driver was issued with penalty infringement notices for negligent driving, P1 driver under 25-years drive between 11pm & 5am with passenger under 21-years, and fail to comply with noticed direction section 7/8/9 under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW). His passenger was also given a $1000 PIN for his failure to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

Since 17 March 2020, police have issued 12 Court Attendance Notices, and 151 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.