Police have charged a man and issued a licensee with a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) in the past 24 hours following two separate breaches of COVID-19 Public Health Orders.
Officers from Operation Border Closure were conducting permit checks at a checkpoint on the Hume Highway, Albury, when they stopped a vehicle about 9.30pm (Monday 3 August 2020), and spoke with the male driver.
The 49-year-old Nelson Bay man told police he travelled into Victoria on Saturday (1 August 2020), and did not have a current permit to re-enter NSW.
Police conducted various inquiries which revealed that the man had previously re-entered NSW on 19 July with his permit directing he self-isolate at his Nelson Bay home. Further, it was established that he had breached the direction to self-isolate on 23 July, when local police conducted a compliance check and were unable to locate him.
It's alleged that the man became aggressive and argumentative and, after he was advised he was being arrested, he resisted police and refused to comply with reasonable directions.
After being arrested, the man was taken to Albury Police Station, where he was observed throwing an item into a rubbish bin, which is alleged to be a satchel of cannabis.
He was subsequently charged with two counts of resist officer in execution of duty, not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9-COVID-19 and possess prohibited drug. He's been refused bail to appear at Albury Local Court today (Tuesday 4 August 2020).
In a separate incident, officers from Lake Illawarra Police District were conducting compliance checks on Friday (31 July 2020), and spoke with the female licensee at a hotel at Kiama about 6pm.
She was unable to produce a completed COVID-Safe plan but showed police blank forms which had been provided by officers during an inspection the previous week. During a subsequent walk-through, police observed patrons standing around and various areas were not appropriately set up to ensure physical distancing – all of which would be addressed in the COVID Safety Plan.
Following further inquiries, the 58-year-old woman was issued a $1000 PIN yesterday (Monday 3 August 2020), before being formally warned to ensure the business complies with COVID restrictions.
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.
