Words fail me......
NSW Police Public Site, News, 15-17 July 2051:
Police urge cooperation and compliance after concerning breaches of Public Health Orders
Police have issued more than 200 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for breaches of the Public Health Act in the past 24 hours as high-visibility operations continue across NSW.
Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, State Emergency Operations Controller, said the cooperation and support of the community – in the form of compliance – was key to the police operation.
“While the vast majority of the community is doing the right thing, it is concerning that three weeks into these restrictions, we are seeing an increase in non-compliance,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
“Police attended more than 960 COVID-related jobs yesterday, with about 600 of those coming from reports to Crime Stoppers.
“In total, police detected almost 400 people breaching the Public Health Orders, resulting in about 220 legal actions, ranging from fines through to criminal charges.
“These numbers are concerning, as the more people do the wrong thing, the more chance there is of the virus spreading,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott reminded people of the serious risk that this Delta variant of COVID-19 poses to the entire state.
“We are dealing with an increased risk of transmission of the virus within the Greater Sydney and surrounding areas, and now is not the time to lose our resolve,” Mr Elliott said.
“I want to remind people in the broader state of NSW not to be complacent, this Delta variant highly transmissible, so please abide by the rules no matter where you are in the state.”
An incident of note in Greater Sydney includes:
- About 1.30am yesterday, officers from Riverstone Police Area Command stopped a 22-year-old Blacktown woman and a 39-year-old Mt Druitt man at Dean Park, who were found to be out in breach of the Public Health Orders. They were each issued a $1000 PIN before being directed home. The pair were stopped at Quakers Hill about 7.30pm, again in breach of the stay home orders. Checks revealed the earlier interaction with police and legal action. Following further inquiries, it was established that the pair did not return home as directed, instead had travelled on public transport to at least nine different suburbs – from Richmond in the west through to Sydney CBD – throughout the day. Their activities included visiting a fast food restaurant and a hotel, where they spent time with two other people. They have been charged with not comply with noticed direction re: Section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 and are due to appear in court next month.
An incident of note in Regional NSW includes:
- Officers from South Coast Police District attended a short-term rental property at Catalina, near Batemans Bay, about 3.15pm, after receiving information that Sydneysiders were staying there. Police were told the eight people – aged between 18 and 19 – had travelled from their homes at Balgowlah Heights, Bellevue Hill, Bondi, Dover Heights, and Edgecliff to the stay at the property before they were due to return to university. Inquiries established they were in breach of the Public Health Orders and were each issued with a $1000 PIN before being directed to return home via the most direct route.
Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing, Regional NSW Field Operations, thanked the South Coast community for their assistance in enforcing the public health orders.
“This case really shows that Sydneysiders have nowhere to hide in regional areas at the moment,” Deputy Commissioner Willing said.
“If you live in Greater Sydney and are thinking of travelling in contravention of the public health order, you should be aware that if police don’t pull you over proactively, the community will let us know you’re there.
“Regional people are actively working with police to protect themselves and their loved ones, which is so important given the incredibly contagious nature of the Delta strain.”
In total, 203 PINs were issued yesterday, with 93 of those $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
A further 19 people were charged with failing to comply with Public Health Orders; the majority of those charges were associated with other criminal offences.
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. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages. [my yellow highlighting]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three removalists who allegedly had knowledge they were COVID positive before travelling from metropolitan Sydney to regional NSW are among the latest people to breach the Public Health Order in the past 24 hours.
Just after 2.30pm yesterday (Friday 16 July 2021), officers from Central West Police District attended Speedy Street, Molong, and spoke with four men – aged 21, 49 and two aged 27 – after receiving information they had travelled there from West Hoxton.
Police established the men, who were working as removalists, had travelled from West Hoxton to Figtree, before travelling to Molong, stopping in regional areas including South Bowenfels and Orange along the way.
It will be alleged three of the men travelled to Molong after being notified they had tested positive to COVID-19.
Police escorted all the men and their vehicles back to Greater Sydney where they have been instructed to isolate for 14-days.
The younger three men were issued Court Attendance Notices for not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott was troubled by this significant breach of the Public Health Orders.
“This thoughtless act has now placed our regional communities in NSW at the greatest risk so far with this pandemic,” Mr Elliott said.
“We know that the delta variant is highly transmissible, and it is unfathomable to think that, with all the public information and health warnings, people could so blatantly ignore the health orders.”
State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said police will be increasing their response to ensure public safety is the number one priority.
“Currently, we are seeing millions of people right across this state doing the right thing being let down by a small minority who continue to be irresponsible and put themselves and their communities at risk,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
“Today’s strengthening of the health orders means that people will have to change the way that they behave.
“The greater restrictions will see police ramping up our response across all of greater Sydney and regional areas to ensure people comply with the health orders and that public safety is the number one priority,” he said.
In total, police have issued 162 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) and charged 18 people for breaches of the Public Health Act in the past 24 hours.
Police attended more than 1,000 COVID-related jobs yesterday, with about 630 of those coming from reports to Crime Stoppers.
Incidents of note in Greater Sydney includes:
- A 25-year-old man who worked in an aged care facility in south-western Sydney and had been informed that he had tested positive to COVID-19 and was directed to stay-at-home. About 10.30pm (Friday 16 July 2021), officers from the North West Region Operations Support Group discovered the man had left his Mr Druitt home and travelled by car to Blacktown to buy dumbbell weights. The man has since been issued a $1000 PIN for failing to comply with noticed direction – individual.
Other incidents of note in regional NSW includes:
- Just before 11am (Friday 16 July 2021), officers attached to Tenterfield Traffic and Highway Patrol were conducting patrols when they stopped a Mitsubishi Lancer on the New England Highway, south of Guyra, and spoke to the driver, a 20-year-old man, and his male passenger. Inquiries revealed they were from Knawal and Charmhaven on the Central Coast and they were each issued $1000 PINs. Inquiries are continuing.
- About 6.20pm (Friday 16 July 2021), officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District observed a grey Audi sedan travelling at speed on the Pacific Highway, Doyalson. Police stopped the car on Scenic Drive and spoke to the driver, a 27-year-old man, and a male passenger, also aged 27. Following inquiries, both men were issued a $1000 PIN for not complying with current health orders as they do not reside in the same household and did not have a reasonable excuse to leave their homes.
- At 12.40am today (Saturday 17 July 2021), police spoke to a man who was asleep in the rear of a white Volkswagen Tiguan on Booner Street, Hawks Nest. The 60-year-old man said he travelled from his Turramurra home to the area for some peace and quiet. After being reminded of the current stay-at-home order, he was issued a $1000 PIN before being directed to return home via the most direct route. [my yellow highlighting]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael West Media, 15 July 2021:
A NSW Police Force spokesperson said:
“Officers from Monaro Police District have issued a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) for failing to comply with direction under the Public Health Act after an alleged breach by a 20-year-old woman.
“It’s alleged the woman travelled from regional NSW to Sydney then to the ACT, before returning to her home in regional NSW last Friday (9 July 2021).
“She was very helpful and apologetic with police. She has since been issued with the $1000 PIN.”
She received the smallest possible penalty for breaching public health orders. The maximum penalty is “imprisonment for 6 months and/or a penalty of up to $11,000.......
The ACT police force, NSW police force and John Barilaro himself have all refused to comment on whether or not John Barilaro or an associate was in contact with the police regarding the matter.
NOTE:
(John) Giovanni Domenic Barilaro is the NSW Deputy Premier and National Party MLA for Monaro.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Daily Telegraph, 16 July 2021:
Outspoken former boxer Anthony Mundine has copped a $1000 fine for breaking Covid rules, while police investigate a second potential breach.
The high-profile Sydney resident was handed the fine after flying to Ballina on July 7, despite the citywide lockdown.
“Officers from Richmond Police District issued a 46-year-old man with a $1000 Penalty Infringement Notice after inquiries revealed he travelled from metropolitan Sydney to Ballina without a reasonable excuse on Wednesday 7 July 2021,” NSW Police said in a statement.
Police are also investigating a second alleged breach after Mundine went to Yamba, in northern NSW.
On July 14 officers launched an inquiry following reports Mundine visited a licenced premises in the regional town, police said.
Travel outside of Sydney, where Mr Mundine lives, is banned under the strict lockdown measures unless people have an exemption…..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~