More than 250 PINs eight arrests as police lock Sydney residents out of CBD amid protest fears

NSW Police took extraordinary measures on Saturday to thwart any repeat of last weekend’s anti-lockdown protests, setting up an exclusion zone around the CBD and checkpoints around the city to stop cars and question drivers en route to the city centre. And authorities have warned Sydney residents to expect more of the same on Sunday.

Eight people were arrested and more than 250 penalty infringement notices were issued in the high visibility operation, which saw more than 1300 police deployed across the CBD and surrounding suburbs. Most of the infringements were issued to people for travelling outside their local government area, contrary to the stay-at-home orders, police said.

Mounted police at Hyde Park.Credit:Nick Moir

Officers from the Central Metropolitan Region were assisted by specialist police from the Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS), Operations Support Group (OSG), Police Transport Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and the Mounted and Dog Unit.

Police also issued a notice to taxi, ride-share and passenger services prohibiting them from driving passengers to the Sydney CBD between 9am and 1.30pm, which they said was “to restrict the movement of potential protesters”.

Companies that failed to comply face a maximum penalty of $500,000, while individuals could be fined up to $100,000.

Police said essential workers, or anyone who required medical treatment, would be able to make their way to their destination. However, with taxi and ride share companies suspending services, one woman told The Herald she couldn’t get to her vaccination appointment at St Vincent’s Hospital from Waterloo on time.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said she eventually managed to get a lift to the hospital with a family member from a nearby area, but felt uncomfortable doing so because “you’re not meant to car pool”.

“It felt very disorganised,” she said. “I understand why they were doing it, but clearly the information given to the cab companies was not sufficient.”

As large numbers of police, including mounted police, gathered in the city and surrounds, a large police operation closed lanes of major roads into the city to stop the flow of traffic â€" and more than 70,000 vehicles were checked.

Police patrol Hyde Park on Saturday, to enforce an exclusion zone in place in the CBD.Credit:Nick Moir

The exclusion zone boundaries were set up on the City West Link at Lilyfield, South Dowling Street at Zetland, New South Head Road at Edgecliff and the Bradfield Highway at Milsons Point.

Lanes were closed city-bound on Parramatta Road in Annandale, Southern Cross Drive at Zetland, the Pacific Highway and Gore Hill Freeway at Artarmon, Victoria Road at Rozelle, the Sydney Harbour Tunnel in both directions, the City West Link at Lilyfield, Enmore Road at Enmore, the Princes Highway at St Peters, and Oxford St at Paddington.

The measures were put in place to prevent a repeat of the violent protests on July 24, during which thousands of people took to the streets to protest the current public health measures, holding signs and chanting slogans. In tense moments, had police clashed with demonstrators and mounted police were pelted with pot plants and other projectiles.

Police interact with demonstrators during an anti-lockdown protest in Sydney’s CBD on July 24.Credit:Brook Mitchell

By early afternoon, it became clear the hordes of protesters would not materialise, and police turned their attention to ensuring people were complying with the public health orders in surrounding areas, including the eastern beaches.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said he was reassured that common sense had prevailed, and that police officers should be “assured that their efforts today have made Greater Sydney a safer place tonight”.

Mr Elliott said the protest “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”.

Metropolitan Field Operations Commander, Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon, said the operations “demonstrate to the community that NSW Police will not tolerate actions that present a risk to public safety and our ability to stop the spread of COVID-19”.

He said the community can expect further operations as police “continue to monitor and enforce the Public Health Order to ensure the safety of the wider community.

“Anyone intent on breaching these orders in the coming weeks should be prepared that police will take action,” he 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.”

Police arrested numerous people during last week’s protest, and have issued $1000 fines to others after the event.

At least 22 detectives have been dedicated Strike Force Seasoned, which aims to identify and prosecute demonstrators.

When the strike force was formed, Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said officers “have already started to identify attendees and will continue for as long as required to identify and prosecute all those who broke the law”.

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Jenny Noyes is a journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald.

Georgina Mitchell is a court reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.

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