AS the easing of COVID-19 restrictions approach, the city's top cop has reminded people of the importance of continuing to follow the rules that apply to gatherings, individuals and businesses
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As of June 1, pubs, clubs and cafes can have up to 50 customers, regional travel is allowed, nail and beauty salons can operate and museums, galleries and libraries can open.
However, the four-square metre rule, social distancing and hygiene and safety requirements remain in place.
Chifley Police District's Superintendent, Peter O'Brien, who has just returned from a six week secondment overseeing the repatriation and quarantining of Australian citizens back into New South Wales, said while the community has been compliant, now is no time to be complacent.
"This is an unprecedented time, and this is another phase or extension of that," he said.
He said while police have been tolerant to a point, everyone needed to me mindful of the rules which are still in place.
"The observation from police is that generally people have been compliant," he said.
Those repeatedly flouting the law will be dealt with.
He said when it came to issuing public infringement notices, officers had been instructed an official warning was the first course of action.
"I said that back in the first week, everyone deserves a warning, but it's not a case of three strikes and you're out."
If an adult is warned and continues to offend they will be subject to a fine and or arrest. It's not rocket science.
"But overall people are aware and have been compliant. We want to make sure everyone is safe. At the beginning [of the pandemic] we spoke to a few shop owners, and since then their co-operation has been fantastic.
"This is not an easy job for police to do. Shutting businesses down is not our core business," he said.
He said as restrictions continue to ease on June 1, people needed to ensure they followed the rules.
"This is the first time since the sixties that pubs have been regulated, closed or told how many people they can have inside.
"This is a learning curve for everyone, police included.
"The relaxation of existing rules is very much a graduated and incremental process for a reason, to see how it works with infection in the community.
"We're not yet through it by any means... this is still a very worrying situation, for the Government and for police," he said.
