A man involved in rallying support for the anti-lockdown protests has been charged, NSW Police say.
Key points:
- Police issued more than 250 penalty infringement notices during the operation
- Eight people were arrested for breaching the health orders
- The police crackdown will continue on Sunday
The 45-year-old man was arrested at a home in Oatley for breaching a Public Safety Order after he travelled by train outside his local government area without an excuse.
Police allege the man was involved in organising an unauthorised protest.
He was taken to Kogarah Police Station where he was charged with not complying with a noticed direction (COVID-19), not wearing a fitted face covering in a public transport waiting area and contravening a public safety order.
He was refused bail and is due to appear at Parramatta Bail Court tomorrow.
Last Saturday, thousands marched into Sydney's CBD chanting "Freedom" and carrying banners protesting against the current restrictions. Similar scenes were expected today in Hyde Park, but no-one turned up.
Instead of corralling large crowds, police horses today munched on grass in Sydney's Hyde Park. Tobruk, the police horse that was attacked by a demonstrator last weekend, was again out on duty.
ABC News: Mark Reddie
)By 1:00pm, the ABC had been unable to identify a single demonstrator at several central locations.
While people were allowed to walk through the iconic lawns of Hyde Park, large groups were stopped and asked where they were going as a precaution.
Over in Darling Harbour, there were plenty of socially-distanced exercisers, but again no demonstrators.
Earlier this morning, an exclusion zone had been set up around the CBD in a high-visibility police operation involving more than 1,300 officers from units across the force including helicopters, mounted police and the dog squad.
Extra caution was taken around Hyde Park and Town Hall, where last weekend's demonstration escalated.
Road blocks had also been set up on major thoroughfares into the city centre and a number of train stations were closed with protesters facing fines of up to $100,000.
ABC News: Mary Lloyd
)ABC News: Rani Hayman
)Taxis and ride-sharing services were also banned from picking up or dropping people off in the exclusion zone unless they were transporting someone for a medical emergency, or an essential worker.
Police this afternoon said they had issued more than 250 penalty infringement notices during the operation, and arrested eight people for breaches of the public health orders. More than 70,000 vehicles were checked at 11 designated traffic points.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said he was glad Sydney avoided a repetition of the events of July 24.
"It was always going to involve a small minority, but they've shown they care for their family and friends and realised this would have the opposite effect of ending lockdown," Mr Elliott said.
"Every officer from the NSW Police Force should be assured that their efforts today have made Greater Sydney a safer place tonight."
ABC News
)A woman out in the CBD who did not want to be identified said she was pleased to see a large police presence.
"It's really great to see officers keeping the city safe — we all need to stay home and get this virus under control,” she said.
"Now is not the time to protest when people are dying from the Delta strain.
"I just want life to go back to normal and protesting will only cause the virus to spread."
Supplied: NSW Police
)ABC News: Rani Hayman
)The sentiments were also shared by people who spoke to the ABC at a checkpoint in the inner-west suburb of Newtown.
"Walking up here and seeing this straight away just feels a bit safer," a passerby said.
"Just feels like they're [police] putting the pressure on to make sure that everyone's doing the right thing."
Another man said people may think twice about going to protests after seeing police stopping and checking cars.
Metropolitan Field Operations Commander Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon thanked the community for staying home, but warned of further action.
ABC News
)"NSW Police will continue to monitor and enforce the Public Health Order to ensure the safety of the wider community, and anyone intent on breaching these orders in the coming weeks should be prepared that police will take action," Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said.
"A further high-visibility operation is planned for tomorrow and officers will have an ongoing presence to ensure there are no further protests and that the community comply with the public health orders."
Anti-lockdown groups on Telegram, which the ABC has chosen not to name, said none of its known organisers had any plans for a Saturday protest.
The ABC found last week's rally was spearheaded by a German-based conspiracy group who also organised similar marches in Melbourne and Queensland.
Messaging, including graphics and instructions for protesters, was then picked up by local anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown groups in NSW.
The same German group organised worldwide "freedom" rallies in May but made no official posts about any planned protests today.
Last night, a 49-year-old man from the Central Coast was charged with criminal offences relating to the incitement of the protest.
Supplied: NSW Police
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2021-07-31 10:44:39Z
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