5 June 2020

COVID-19 safe venues the focus for extended Operation Pariac in regional NSW

| Edwina Mason
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Two pints of beer sitting on bar.

NSW Police will be conducting random checks and patrols of licensed venues throughout regional NSW as part of Operation Pariac. Photo: Supplied.

Maintaining social distancing and ensuring government Public Health Order compliance at licensed venues will be the focus of a month-long high-visibility policing operation across regional NSW.

With the NSW Government easing restrictions related to gatherings in public places imposed under the Public Health Order from last week, an extended period of Operation Pariac has commenced and will be conducted until June 30.

Operation Pariac is a high-visibility operation regularly conducted by general duties and specialist licencing police in the northern, southern and western regions of NSW, but it has an altered focus for June 2020.

The operation aims to ensure education and compliance around the Public Health Order conditions, relative to the easing of restrictions in licensed premises.

Police will also be targeting alcohol-related crime, including assaults, antisocial behaviour and public order incidents.

Operation Pariac commander, NSW Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell, said as restrictions continue to ease, venues and patrons need to be aware of their responsibilities to maintain a COVID-19-safe environment.

“The movement of people across the state will start to increase dramatically, as thousands of people head to regional communities to inject much-needed tourism dollars,” he said.

Police will be conducting random patrols of licensed venues throughout the regions, with the ability for resources to be shared among police districts where demand is needed, particularly during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

“Operation Pariac, as part of a Vikings operation, will see officers working closely with industry and business owners to ensure they are able to operate safe environments for their customers, while making the public feel confident about returning to a COVID-19-safe venue,” said Mr Mitchell.

“Whether you’re heading to a winery in the Hunter Valley, a bar at Byron Bay, a pub at the bushfire-hit South Coast, or an RSL in drought-impacted areas out west, licencees and patrons alike need to be aware of their surroundings and the strict rules which now apply.”

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