Further charges over Bowral caf breaches - COVID PINs

A man charged with assaulting police after breaches of the Public Health Act were detected in the Southern Highlands earlier this week, has had more charges laid.

A 63-year-old man and two women, aged 62 and 43, were arrested on Thursday (1 July 2021), after complaints were made that staff at a Bowral cafe were not wearing masks.

All were taken to Southern Highlands Police Station where the man was charged with assault officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty, and incite to resist/hinder police officer in execution duty; he's due to appear in Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday 3 August 2021.

Following further inquiries, the 63-year-old man was yesterday (Friday 2 July 2021), charged with not comply with the no spitting/coughing direction. He was also served with a $200 PIN for not wear fitted face covering when in indoor area of retail/business premises.

The 62-year-old woman has been charged with hinder police in the execution of duty (two counts), and fail to provide name and address. She was also issued a Future Court Appearance Notice (FCAN) not wear fitted face covering when in indoor area of retail/business premises.

In addition, a 43-year-old woman was issued a FCAN for not wear face mask covering in retail/business premises, and fail to provide name and address. Both women are due to appear at Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday 17 August 2021.

About 4.30pm yesterday, three men – two aged 21 and one aged 23 – from Merrylands and Auburn, attended Jenolan Caves and attempted to purchase tickets for a tour. Staff requested the group to leave on establishing they were from Sydney and police were notified. A short time later, police stopped their vehicle and when asked why they had travelled there, allegedly said they were bored. They were each issued with $1000 PINs and directed to return to Sydney.

On Wednesday (30 June 2021), police attended a café on Snowy Valley Way, Jindabyne, after numerous Crime Stoppers reports in relation to breaches of COVID-19 health orders. The owners – a 32-year-old woman and 33-year-old man – were arrested and charged for not wear fitted face covering in retail business. They were given conditional bail; however, officers attended the café again yesterday (Friday 2 July 2021), and again found no face coverings being worn by members of the public, no QR code and no sign-in sheet. The owners have been issued $1000 PINs for PHO breaches.

They were also issued a Future Court Attendance Notice for breach of bail conditions and are due to appear at Cooma Local Court on Thursday 5 August 2021. Police applied to the Department of Health seeking a Closure Order on the premises. A "show cause" notice was issued yesterday to the owners as to why the café should not be closed.

Seven people – five men and two women – have each been issued with a $1000 PIN for breaching PHO, for being out of home without reasonable excuse, after officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District were alerted to a group of people gathered in an industrial estate yesterday.

Police investigating a reported breach of the PHO at a hair salon at Rockdale, have fined the business $5000 and two customers $1000 each. Following information provided, officers from St George PAC went to the business on the Princes Highway about 5.10pm yesterday (Friday 2 July 2021), and found a customer having her hair coloured, with a second customer arriving while police were there. All have been issued with PINS.

Following further inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the travel of an organised group who were detected at a Dubbo zoo earlier this week (Monday 28 June 2021), all 128 travellers have received a caution under the Public Health Act. The investigation is now finalised.

In total, 78 PINs were issued yesterday and of those 48 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.

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.

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