A man has faced court after breaching ministerial directions for the second time in a week.
About 2.20pm (Thursday 2 April 2020), officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command approached a group consuming alcohol within Bankstown City Plaza. They were warned about their obligations under the Public Health Act before they were directed to move on.
Following further inquiries, it was identified that a member of the group had already been served with Penalty Infringement Notice for not comply with noticed direction (section 7/8/9 of the Public Health Act 2010) on Tuesday (31 March 2020).
Police attended a home at Brancourt Avenue, Yagoona and arrested a 68-year-old man. He was taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with not comply with noticed direction (section 7/8/9 of the Public Health Act 2010).
He was refused bail and appeared at Bankstown Local Court today (Friday 3 April 2020) where he was fined $1500.
Additionally, a total of 12 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) were issued yesterday in relation to alleged breaches of the Public Health Act:
- About 6.40pm on Wednesday (1 April 2020), a man entered Dee Why Police Station, and told officers he was "meeting a mate" and did not require the services of police. He was advised that he was breaching ministerial direction and should return home immediately. The 50-year-old returned to the station at 3.40am (Thursday 2 April 2020), drinking a bottle of beer and smoking a cigarette. He was unable to provide a reasonable excuse for not being home and was handed a $1000 fine.
- Officers attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command spoke to a 21-year-old man at Macquarie Street, Liverpool, about his obligations to ministerial directions under the Public Health Act. He was issued a warning and given a move-on direction. Despite this, the man refused to leave the location and was issued with a PIN.
- About midday yesterday (Thursday 2 April 2020), officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped a vehicle on Rabaul Road, Georges Hall. The driver, a 20-year-old man from Currans Hill, allegedly claimed he was visiting a friend and was informed by officers this was not permitted under current regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was given a warning and directed to return home. Shortly after he was stopped again by police travelling away from his registered address and was fined for a breach of ministerial directions.
- A vehicle containing five people was stopped by officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District on Yarran Street, Coonamble, about 1am, Thursday 2 April 2020. None of the occupants were able to provide a valid reason for not being home. One occupant, an 18-year-old man had been subject to multiple warnings the prior day and was fined. The remaining occupants were given a warning, before being directed to return to their respective homes. Shortly after the driver and one of the passengers, both 21-year-old men, were stopped by police walking along Yarran Street and were issued with PINs.
- About 5.45pm (Thursday 2 April 2020), two men were seen sitting in a parked car by officers attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command conducting patrols on Wilson Road, Green Valley. Police spoke with the men and searched their vehicle, locating drug paraphernalia. The men, aged 18 and 19 respectively, could not provide a reason for not being home and were fined $1000 each.
- About 7.40pm (Thursday 2 April 2020), police responded to reports of a man allegedly dealing drugs at a hotel on Hurley Street, Cootamundra. Officers attached to Riverina Police Area Command attended, and located a clear bag containing methylamphetamine which was seized. Following inquiries, police stopped a Ford Falcon on Hurley Street and arrested a 36-year-old man and seized cash alleged to be the proceeds of crime. He was taken to Cootamundra Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug and deal with the proceeds of crime. The man, who resides 150km away in Tumbarumba, was unable to provide reasonable excuse for being away from his registered address and – in addition to his charges – was issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN). He was granted conditional bail to appear at Cootamundra Local Court on Monday 4 May 2020.
- Yesterday about 11.45pm (Thursday 2 April 2020), officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command approached a vehicle parked on Cooper Road, Yagoona with two occupants. Police spoke with two men, aged 24 and 27, who were unable to provide a reasonable excuse for not being home. Following inquiries, police conducted a search of the vehicle and located multiple prohibited substances. Both men were issued with PINs for their breach of ministerial orders and the younger man was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug and possess prescribed drug. He was given a Field Court Attendance Notice to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday 25 June 2020.
- Officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command were conducting a patrol of Meredith Street, Bankstown, when they spoke to a 50-year-old man about 11pm (Thursday 2 April 2020). When questioned regarding his reason for not being at home, he provided varying accounts to police before admitting he was only out to see a friend. For his failure to comply with Ministerial directions under the Public Health Act he was fined $1000.
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.
