Category: NSW News

Further crew members have disembarked the Ruby Princess today in the ongoing joint operation to facilitate the movement and eventual repatriation of crew members to their home countries.
NSW Police Force has worked closely with Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police, NSW Health, Aspen Medical, Princess Cruises and government officials from numerous overseas jurisdictions to ensure the safe movement and eventual return of the crew members to their countries of origin.
Officers from the Marine Area Command, assisted by Transport for NSW, NSW Health and the Australian Defence Force, have assisted a further 115 crew members from nine countries disembark the vessel today (Wednesday 22 April 2020).
Of this group, 94 crew members tested negative for COVID-19, and were taken via charter bus to either Sydney International Airport or a Sydney hotel, where they will await flights to their countries of origin, which include Brazil, France, Germany, Republic of North Macedonia, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.
21 crew members, who have tested positive for COVID-19, have also disembarked from the ship. These crew members have been taken to NSW Health-managed hotels to undertake a strict 14-day quarantine period.
Stringent protocols were maintained to ensure the movement of these individuals posed no risk to the public.
Once the 14-day quarantine period is exhausted, subject to a medical clearance by NSW Health, they will be transported to Sydney Airport to fly back to their countries of origin.
More crew members are expected to disembark from the Ruby Princess tomorrow, before the ship leaves Australian waters.

The NSW Government today announced a $140 million Bushfire Industry Recovery Package to support forestry, horticulture and agriculture industries impacted by the recent bushfires.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said the package will help industries significantly impacted by bushfires to rebuild, recover, regrow and remain the heartbeat of regional economies.
“This funding will support the recovery and resilience of key industries by backing projects that retain and create jobs, strengthen local supply chains and support a return to production,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Regional NSW relies on these key driver industries to help generate jobs and economic activity and this funding will provide the direct help many businesses need to recover from devastating losses, which in turn will help their wider industry remain viable.”
Mr Barilaro said regional NSW is the backbone of this State and it is critical to support the key regional industries which keep our economy thriving.
“Our farmers feed this State and this Nation, and not only have they endured the worst drought on record, but many have suffered horrific bushfires and now COVID-19 is affecting our regional economies,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Bushfire impacted towns cannot afford to suffer further job losses and economic downturn, which is why we are delivering this funding to keep our key regional industries in business.
“Industries with the greatest impact will be given the greatest share of this funding. The program will focus on recovery in the short term and will support valuable investments to help these sectors plan for recovery in the longer term.”
Details of funding criteria including amounts available for businesses under this package will be made available with the release of program Guidelines in the coming weeks.
Other bushfire support measures include the NSW and Australian Governments sharing the cost for the clean-up of residential and small business properties, the NSW Government’s $1 billion fund to replace vital state infrastructure, $75,000 grants for bushfire affected primary producers and $50,000 grants for bushfire affected small businesses.
For a full list of all available bushfire support, go to www.service.nsw.gov.au.

NSW will be a safer state with 250 additional police to be assigned to local stations and specialist commands over the next 12 months to protect communities and fight crime at a time when many officers are on the frontline in the war against COVID-19.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the Government’s $583 million investment will see the NSW Police Force’s strength increase by an extra 1500 permanent police positions over four years.
“These extra officers are needed now more than ever, as we see police take on an even bigger role to not only fight crime, but also other threats to community safety such as bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Elliott said.
“Be it facing criminals, natural disasters or a pandemic, our frontline police officers put their lives on the line every day to protect the community.
“They deserve the finest resources NSW has to offer and the NSW Government will stop at nothing to ensure they have whatever they need to get the job done.”
NSW Police Force Commissioner Mick Fuller said the positions had been allocated after extensive consultation with region commanders, commanders and the Police Association of NSW.
“These officers couldn’t have come at a better time,” Mr Fuller said.
“These fully funded positions are being placed in the areas most in need – in police area commands and police districts as well as in specialist commands, such as the Regional Enforcement Squads, the Child Internet Exploitation Unit and Cybercrime Squad.
“This increased capacity within our specialist commands, and in areas such as aged crime prevention and child protection, will dramatically improve our ability to respond to emerging crime threats and protect our most vulnerable community members.”
Areas of NSW receiving extra police positions in 2020-21 include:

• Murray River Police District (7);
• Coffs-Clarence Police District (5); and
• Manning-Great Lakes Police District, Mid North Coast Police District, Nepean Police Area Command, Oxley Police District, Richmond Police District, Tweed-Byron Police District (4 each).

Other highlights include 10 additional police for Child Abuse Squad, 8 additional police for Cybercrime Squad, 8 additional police for the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit and 2 additional police for the Child Exploitation Internet Unit.
Future allocations of positions will be determined based on resource requirements and how best to prevent, disrupt and respond to emerging crime issues.

NSW school students will gradually transition back to the classroom during Term 2 as the Government continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell outlined the plan for students attending NSW public schools to progressively return to face-to-face learning in week three of Term 2.
Ms Berejiklian said health advice continues to be that schools remain open, and parents, teachers and students can be confident that school is safe place.
“We are grateful to all families who kept their children home from school at the end of Term 1 and to teachers who worked tirelessly to deliver education online,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This allowed us critical time to prepare our schools to develop better online learning options and for considering additional hygiene measures to allow schools to return.
“We know that nothing is more important than a child’s education, and we must begin to return our students to their classrooms in a considered way.
“Under these changes, from week three of Term 2, every student will be attending school for one day a week.
“We will look to increase the number of days students are at school in a staged way and hope to have all children back at school full-time by Term 3.
“I’d like to thank the Catholic and Independent schools for working with the NSW Government at this time, as well as staff, including teachers, principals and cleaners, for working so hard to prepare for a resumption of school.
“I’d also like to thank parents for what has been a tough month, often juggling working from home and caring for children. We hope the partial resumption of on campus learning will provide some much needed relief to those families.”
During the first stage of on-campus learning, parents will be encouraged to keep their children home except on their allocated day of face-to-face learning. Initially, about a quarter of a school’s students are expected to be on site at any one time. The specific days students will be required to attend school each week will vary from school to school and will be clearly communicated to parents.
Classes will be split across schools, allowing schools to appropriately social distance students and teachers.
As always, schools will remain open for students who need them and no child will be turned away from school.
Ms Mitchell said careful consideration had been given to support the school community, providing clarity and certainty on the path forward.
“This plan provides a clear path that balances community concerns with a need to deliver continuity of quality education,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Hand sanitiser will be available in all classrooms and provisions are in place for at-risk teachers to work from home. Drop off, pick up, recess and lunchtimes will also be staggered to ensure social distancing.”
In addition to the staged return to school, the NSW Government has committed up to $95.7 million to help keep casual and temporary school staff engaged in active work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our casual and temporary teachers and other non-teaching staff across NSW schools are critical to our education system, and will help ensure the educational outcomes for our students during this staged return,” Ms Mitchell said.
A cross-sector working group of teachers will also be established to report back to the Minister on recent innovations and educational developments assembled during the COVID-19 period that are suitable to support future educational delivery.
“It’s important that we have an inventory of the cutting edge teaching solutions and recognise the best efforts of our amazing NSW teachers during a difficult time,” Ms Mitchell said.
Teachers will have an additional day to prepare for Term 2 on Tuesday 28 April making the first day of term for students Wednesday 29 April.

The first contingent of Ruby Princess crew members will begin the process of repatriation to their home countries today (Tuesday 21 April 2020), as a multi-agency operation led by NSW Police Force begins.
NSW Police Force has worked closely with Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police, NSW Health, Aspen Medical, Carnival Cruises and government officials from numerous overseas jurisdictions to ensure the safe movement and eventual return of the crew members to their countries of origin.
Officers from the Marine Area Command, assisted by Transport for NSW, NSW Health and the Australian Defence Force, will today disembark at least 49 crew members from six countries.
One of the 49 crew members has tested positive for COVID-19. Upon disembarkation, the crew member will be taken to a NSW Health-managed hotel to undertake a strict 14-day quarantine period.
Stringent protocols are in place to ensure the movement of this person does not pose a risk to the public.
Once the 14-day quarantine period is exhausted, subject to a medical clearance by NSW Health, the crew member will be transported to Sydney Airport to fly back to their country of origin.
The remaining 48 crew members have tested negative for COVID-19. They will be disembarked this morning, and arrangements are being made for flights to return them to their home countries.
More crew members will be disembarked from the Ruby Princess over the coming days, and details of those operations will be provided to media in due course.
A significant number of crew members will remain on the Ruby Princess and return with the ship to its port of origin.
NSW Police Force Commissioner Mick Fuller praised the co-ordinated effort to keep those on and off the ship safe.
“Today’s operation is the culmination of a significant joint effort by a number of agencies, and that effort will continue until we have ensured the safety and movement of every crew member, in line with their wishes,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“The health of those on board and protecting the people of NSW always has been – and will continue to be – our number one priority.
“The movement of the first crew contingent today is an important milestone, and has us one step closer to the Ruby Princess leaving Australian waters.”
Investigations under Strike Force Bast surrounding the docking and disembarking of the Ruby Princess at Sydney Harbour on Thursday 19 March 2020 are continuing.
Anyone who has information relevant to the investigation, including details of symptoms, illness, or medical advice during the voyage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
The community is reminded that their information is treated in strict confidence.

Two people are due in court today charged with assault after they allegedly spat on workers in separate incidents in Sydney.
A 32-year-old woman has been charged after she allegedly spat on a bus driver after he asked her to stop smoking on his bus.
Officers from the Police Transport Command have been told the woman was on a State Transit bus on Darlinghurst Road at Potts Point about 2.45pm on Sunday (19 April 2020), when she was told she couldn’t smoke on the bus. Police will allege the woman abused the driver before spitting in his face. She left the bus and police were alerted.
Following inquiries, the woman was arrested at a home unit in Surry Hills about 1.45pm yesterday (Monday 20 April 2020), and taken to Kings Cross Police Station where she was charged with common assault.
In a separate incident, a 41-year-old man was refused bail overnight after allegedly biting and punching hospital security, then spitting blood on a nurse at an Inner West hospital.
Officers from Inner West Police Area Command had been called to a unit in Missenden Road at Newtown about 11pm Sunday (19 April 2020), investigating a breach of a Personal Violence Order.
The man was found unconscious inside and an ambulance was called to take him to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment.
Police have been told while at the hospital, the man punched one security officer in the face and bit a second on the forearm; he then allegedly spat blood and saliva into the face of a female nurse.
The man was arrested on his release from hospital last night and was taken to Newtown Police Station where he was charged with stalk/intimidate with intent to cause fear (two counts), common assault (three counts), and contravene AVO.
Both are due to appear in Central Local Court today (Tuesday 21 April 2020).
These people have been charged with common assault in relation to the spitting offences rather than being issued with a fine; both have been refused bail overnight.
 

Police have charged two people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 25 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charges:

• Just after 2.30pm yesterday (Monday 20 April 2020), officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were called following reports of a woman shoplifting at a chemist on Riley Street, Surry Hills. Police attended and found a 30-year-old woman inside a bank at a shopping centre on George Street, Sydney CBD. Officers searched the woman and allegedly found stolen items, including earrings. Checks revealed the woman had been charged with not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 on Sunday (19 April 2020) and issued three warnings earlier this month. The Surry Hills woman was subsequently arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station where she was charged with shoplifting and not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. She was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Tuesday 21 April 2020).

• About 1.30pm yesterday (Monday 20 April 2020), officers from Mt Druitt Police Area Command attended a street shopping precinct on Cleeve Close, Mt Druitt, following reports of a brawl. Upon arrival, police observed a group of about 10 men. As officers approached, several members of the group dispersed, before they spoke to a 29-year-old Plumpton man. Checks revealed the man had previously been issued three $1000 PINs and a warning on four separate occasions since Saturday 4 April 2020. He was subsequently arrested and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station where he was charged with not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday 10 June 2020.

Yesterday’s PINs include:

• Just after 9.30am, a 40-year-old woman entered a fast food restaurant on Charlton Street, Woy Woy, when she allegedly threatened a 22-year-old staff member. The woman then allegedly spat at staff before entering the employee-only section and stole food. Officers from Brisbane Water Police District were called and arrested the woman. She was issued a $5000 PIN for not comply with notice direction in relation to spitting – COVID19 and a criminal infringement notice for stealing.

• About 7pm, officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District observed a Mitsubishi Triton utility travelling up to 171km/h in a 110km/h zone on the M1 Motorway at Somersby. Police stopped the car at a nearby rest stop, where the driver, a 26-year-old man, underwent a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station, where a subsequent breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.054. The man was issued a traffic infringement for exceed speed over 45km/h and low range PCA. He was also issued $1000 Pin for non-essential travel.

• Just after 12pm, officers from Richmond Police District were patrolling the Pat Morton Lookout at Lennox Head, when they spoke with a 31-year-old man who was watching people surf. The man told officers he had travelled from Byron Bay for a surf; however, police observed he did not have his surfboard with him. He was issued a $1000 PIN. At the same location, police spoke with a 60-year-old man who was taking photographs. He told police he had travelled from Queensland to see his son. He was also issued a $1000 PIN.

• At 1.15pm, officers attached to Richmond Police District spoke to two men who were sitting in a van parked at Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head. The driver, aged 23, and passenger, aged 27, stated they had travelled from Suffolk Park for a swim. The provisional driver was allegedly unable to provide police with his licence. The driver was issued an infringement notice for not displaying P-plates as required and both were issued $1000 PINs.

• Officers from Murray River Police District were patrolling the Deniliquin area, when they stopped a vehicle on Edwardes Street about 8.15pm. The driver, a 20-year-old man, did not provide a reasonable excuse for not being at home. Police also discovered he had been formally warned regarding the same issue on Friday 17 April 2020. He was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.

• About 4.40pm, police will allege a 37-year-old man was at a home on Manilla Road, Oxley Vale, when a Holden Commodore pulled up outside and a 24-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman exited the vehicle with a dog. It’s alleged the younger man, armed with a metal police, threatened and attempted to assault the older man before setting his dog on him. Officers from Oxley Police District attended and arrested the 24-year-old man. He was taken to Tamworth Police Station, where he was charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm, armed with intent commit indictable offence, set on, urge dog to attack, bite, negligent driving, and drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous. He was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Monday 6 July 2020. The man and woman were also issued $1000 PINs.

• About 7.40pm, officers from Mt Druitt Police Area Command were patrolling the Whalan area, when they stopped a vehicle on Popondetta Road, near Woodstock Avenue. Officers spoke with the driver, a 29-year-old man, who told police he was out to purchase food and cigarettes. Police discovered the man was from Kelso and had passed many food outlets and stores before arriving in Whalan. Checks also revealed the man had been issued a warning earlier the same day and he was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.

• Just after 2am, officers from Murrumbidgee Police District were patrolling when they observed a man riding a bicycle on Illiliwa Street, Griffith. Police spoke to the 28-year-old man, who allegedly provided no reasonable excuse for being out of his house. He was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.

• About 9.30pm, officers from St George Highway Patrol Command stopped a Toyota Camry on Belmore Road, Riverwood, for the purposes of a roadside breath and drug test. The driver, a 28-year-old man, allegedly returned a positive detection to cannabis and taken to Kogarah Police Station for a secondary test. Inquiries revealed the man had driven from his home in Bankstown to a relative’s house in Riverwood to allegedly smoke cannabis. He was issued a $1000 PIN for non-essential travel. Investigations continue.

• About 7.40pm, officers from the Police Transport Command, spoke to three teenage girls at Central Railway Station. Checks revealed one of the girls, aged 16, had previously been warned earlier that day after she travelled from her home at Avoca without a reasonable excuse. The girl was also warned on 16 April after being stopped at Gosford Railway Station. She was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN. The two other girls were issued warnings.

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. Informationis treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Temporary accommodation pods are continuing to be delivered to the hardest hit residents in bushfire affected areas across the state, with more pods arriving in Kempsey and Eurobodalla this week.
More than 100 temporary accommodation pods will be provided to residents in bushfire affected communities across the state, thanks to a partnership between the NSW Government and Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation.
Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said it was important to offer safe and secure shelter to help people stay on their land, if they choose to do so.
“We have provided emergency and temporary accommodation to 8,000 people since November last year, however we recognise that for some people a hotel or motel in the next largest town doesn’t suit, as they have responsibilities like looking after animals and tending to livestock”, Mr Barilaro said.
“Over the next few weeks, we will see an additional 50 pods allocated, which is great news for many residents. The current temporary accommodation pods can house up to four people, however we are looking to develop larger pods to suit larger families.
“We are doing all we can to keep families and communities together wherever possible.”
Minderoo Foundation CEO Andrew Hagger said the recovery pods had been well received.
“We’re incredibly proud of the impact our recovery pods have had. The feedback from recipients has been overwhelmingly positive,” Mr Hagger said.
“The Minderoo Foundation team has been working tirelessly to get pods out, despite the new challenges COVID-19 has presented.
“We will continue to work with the NSW Government, to help as many people impacted by the fires as we can, for as long as it’s safe to do so.”
The temporary accommodation pods will allow people to stay on their land while they rebuild, with the first pods arriving in Kempsey and Eurobodalla Local Government Areas. Pods have also been approved for deployment to the Tenterfield and Glen Innes Local Government Areas, with delivery and installation to be scheduled shortly.
The pods will be provided for up to two years, tying into recent planning amendments which allow temporary accommodation on private property for up to two years.

Better protections, stronger assessment and more environmental offsets will ensure Sydney’s drinking water supply is safeguarded, following an extensive review by an independent expert panel.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the NSW Government had accepted all 50 recommendations of the expert panel led by the office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer.
“We want to ensure we have every measure in place to protect Sydney’s water supply for generations to come,” Mr Stokes said.
“We’ve accepted all of the recommendations from the panel and have established an interagency taskforce to implement a detailed action plan throughout this year.
“These actions will improve our existing comprehensive assessment and monitoring of underground coal mining while providing certainty for both Sydney’s water supply and thousands of jobs across NSW – particularly 5,000 workers in the Illawarra.”
The action plan includes:

• Ensuring there is a net gain for the metropolitan water supply by requiring more offsetting from mining companies;
• Establishing a new independent expert panel to advise on future mining applications in the catchment;
• Strengthening surface and groundwater monitoring;
• Improving access to and transparency of environmental data;
• Adopting a more stringent approach to the assessment and conditioning of future mining proposals to minimise subsidence impacts;
• Reviewing and updating current and potential future water losses from mining in line with the best available science;
• Introducing a licensing regime to properly account for any water losses; and
• Undertaking further research into mine closure planning to reduce potential long-term impacts.

The Independent Expert Panel for Mining in the Catchment’s final report is available at https://www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au/reports/independent-expert-panel-for-mining-in-the-catchment

Police have charged six people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 31 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charges:

• Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were patrolling the CBD just before 2am (Sunday 19 April 2020), when they approached a woman on the corner of Goulburn and Cunningham Streets, who had price tags visible on her clothing. During a search of the woman, police located an array of clothing with price tags on them, suspected to be stolen. Checks revealed the woman had multiple warnings and a recent fine for breaching Ministerial Directions under the Public Health Act. She was subsequently charged with not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19 and appeared in court yesterday, where she was convicted and given a $220 fine.

• About 2.15am police from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command spoke to a 22-year-old man on Luxford Road, Mt Druitt, who was walking with two other males. It was ascertained the man had been issued with two prior PINS for breaching the Public Health Act. The man was informed he would be issued with another PIN and instructed to walk directly to the Mt Druitt Railway Station and return home. The man was arrested after he ignored the direction. He was charged with not comply with noticed direction and granted conditional bail, due to appear in Mount Druitt Local Court on 13 May 2020.

• About 9am (Sunday 19 April 2020), a 50-year-old man attended Westfield Warringah Mall – allegedly in breach of a banning notice – and became aggressive with security officers before leaving. About 11.40am, officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command located the man on Howard Avenue, Dee Why, seated on a bench drinking a beer. When asked about a jacket in his possession, the man stated it was stolen from the donation bins. The man was subsequently charged with breaching the Public Health Act, enter enclosed lands, larceny and goods in custody. He’s been refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Monday 20 April 2020).

• About 1.15pm police from the Sutherland Shire Police Area Command attended a multi-story carpark in Croyden Street, Cronulla, responding to reports of a man who appeared to be unconscious in his car. As police approached the 50-year-old man he became aggressive. Police asked the man to participate in random breath test and he allegedly grabbed the officer’s arm and attempted to spit in his face. The man was removed from the car where it is further alleged he attempted to bite police. He was taken to Sutherland Police Station and charged with assault police and not comply with noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID-19. He was refused bail and is expected to appear via AVL in Parramatta Local Court today (Monday 20 April 2020).

• At 2.20pm police attached to the Mid North Police Area Command attended a service station on Smith Street, Kempsey following a theft. The 27-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Kempsey Police Station. The woman informed police that she had recently been tested for Covid-19 and was informed to self-isolate until she received results. She was charged with three counts of shoplifting, larceny, dishonestly obtain financial advantage, breach of bail and not comply with noticed direction. She was refused bail and will appear in Kempsey Local Court via AVL today (Monday 20 April 2020).

• About 4.10am yesterday (Sunday 19 April 2020), officers from Kuring Gai Police Area Command were patrolling the St Ives area, when they came across a group of youths congregating on Bedford Avenue. One of the boys, aged 16, was allegedly in breach of his bail conditions. The youths then ran from police before the 16-year-old boy was arrested. He was taken to Hornsby Police Station, where he was charged with breach of bail and not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear a Children’s Court on Tuesday 16 June 2020.

Yesterday’s PINs include:

• About 9.30am yesterday (Sunday 19 April 2020), officers from Burwood Police Area Command were called to a unit complex in Swan Avenue, Strathfield, over a noise complaint. On arrival, officers located six men allegedly having a social gathering. All six men – aged 21, 26, 26, 27, 27 and 31 – were issued PINs.

• Just before 1pm yesterday, officers from Central North Police District were patrolling the Kamilaroi Highway, when they stopped a vehicle at Brewarrina. Officers spoke with the driver, a 41-year-old woman, who could not provide a reasonable excuse for not being at home and allegedly had camping equipment. She was issued infringement notices for defected tyres, not obey police direction, exceed speed more than 20km/h, and fail to comply with notice direction in relation to section 7/8/9 – COVID19.

• Officers from Murray River Police District were patrolling the West Albury area, when they came across a car parked in Kremur Street just after midnight yesterday. Inside the vehicle, officers located four men, aged 18, 20, 21 and 21, who were allegedly drinking alcohol and not following social distancing regulations. All four men were issued PINs.

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.