The blitz on the weekly inner-city scene has highlighted the confusion about what is allowable under the health orders as police ramp up their COVID-19 compliance operation across Sydney and statewide after Police Commissioner Mick Fuller urged them to “go high-level enforcement”.
Mr Adcock said he and his partner had been standing away from the crowd,holding their masks,when they were approached. “I wasn’t aware that I was doing anything wrong ... by the guidelines I found online I assumed this was quite OK,” he recalled of the episode that left him $1000 poorer.
“I’d said,‘We’ve come to do some shopping,but we’re eating something first.’ ”
That morning,the same officer approached a man sitting on the verge of Fitzroy Gardens drinking a coffee with his partner,and asked,“What do you think you’re doing?” before taking their details and telling them to expect a $1000 fine in the mail.
The man – who did not want to be identified – said he would challenge the fine if it arrived because he believed he was firmly within the definition of “outdoor recreation”,which the public health order permits for households or groups of two in local government areas not under stricter conditions.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said police were “working closely with market organisers to ensure COVID-19 compliance and implementation of the COVIDSafe plan at the market going forward”.
According to NSW Health,recreation includes outdoor leisure activities,such as sitting for relaxation,or to eat,drink or read outdoors.