NSW Police have charged six people – ranging in age from 27 to 64 – and issued 55 fines following protest activity in Tweed Heads yesterday.
Protestors crossed the border between Queensland at Coolangatta and NSW at Tweed Heads on Sunday, with nine people arrested and taken to Tweed Heads Police Station.
Six were charged with various offences, including assault, resist and hinder police, possess prohibited drug, unlawfully participate in outdoor gathering-stay at home area and not comply with COVID-19 directions.
All six were granted conditional bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on September 20.
Tweed/Byron Police District Commander, Superintendent Dave Roptell, said officers would not hesitate to strongly enforce the Public Health Orders.
“Our officers are reviewing all available vision to ensure we are able to identify and take appropriate action against those who were in attendance yesterday,” Supt Roptell said.
“The majority of the Far North Coast community have been doing the right thing by following the Stay at Home orders and keeping the community safe. It is extremely frustrating that a minority of people continue to have a blatant disregard for the wider community’s safety and put other people in danger.
“The Public Health Orders are in place to limit movement so we can prevent further spread of COVID-19 – the Delta variant doesn’t follow boundaries or borders, we need to work together to stop the outbreak.
“Our goal is to get out of lockdown, and this sort of mass gathering is not to help us going forward,” Supt Roptell said.
A 39-year-old man was also arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant, he was refused bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court today.
Officers issued 55 Penalty Infringement Notices for breaches of the Public Health Orders – 32 were issued with $3000 PINs for not comply with Outdoor Public Gathering Direction, and 23 were issued with $1000 PINs for not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
Detectives from Tweed/Byron Police District are reviewing CCTV and mobile phone vision and are conducting extensive inquiries to continue to identify and prosecute protest participants, NSW Police said in a statement.
Anyone with information or vision of yesterday’s protest activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers through the online portal or by contacting 1800 333 000. Every single report will be investigated, Police said.
