Maintaining social distancing and ensuring Public Health Order compliance at licensed venues will be the focus of a month-long high-visibility policing operation across regional NSW.
With the NSW Government easing of restrictions related to gatherings in public places imposed under the Public Health Order from today (Monday 1 June 2020), an extended period of Operation Pariac has commenced and will be conducted until Tuesday 30 June 2020.
Operation Pariac is a high-visibility operation regularly conducted by general duties and specialist licensing police in the Northern, Southern and Western Regions, but will have an altered focus for June 2020.
The operation aims to ensure education and compliance around the Public Health Order conditions, relative to the easing of restrictions in licensed premises.
Police will also be targeting alcohol-related crime, including assaults, anti-social behaviour and public order incidents.
Operation Pariac Commander, Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell APM, said as restrictions continue to ease, venues and patrons need to be aware of their responsibilities to maintain a COVID-safe environment.
"From today, the movement of people across the state will start to increase dramatically, as thousands of people head to regional communities to inject much needed tourism dollars.
"Police will be conducting random checks and patrols of licensed venues throughout our regions, with the ability for resources to be shared amongst police districts where the demand is needed – particularly across the Queen's Birthday long weekend (Saturday 6 June – Monday 8 June 2020).
"Operation Pariac, as part of a Vikings operation, will see officers working closely with industry and business owners to ensure they are able to operate safe environments for their customers, while making the public feel confident about returning to a COVID-safe venue.
"Whether you're heading to a winery in the Hunter Valley, a bar at Byron Bay, a pub on the bushfire-hit South Coast, or an RSL in drought-impacted areas out west – licensees and patrons alike need to be aware of their surroundings and the strict rules which now apply," Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
