A MAITLAND licenced premises has been caught among more than 100 breaches across the state in a police blitz on alcohol-related crime and COVID-19 compliance.
Northern Region police took part in Operation Pariac on Friday and Saturday, with both general duties and licencing officers out in force both within and around the venues.
They arrested 55 people and laid 76 charges for offences including assault, resist arrest and drive under the influence during more than 1000 business inspections.
Those inspections also found 102 breaches, including 76 for liquor and 26 for gaming. Follow-up inquiries are continuing in several cases.
The cases including patrols in Maitland that, on Saturday, led to police allegedly finding several patrons had not signed in using the QR code. Investigations continue.
Operation Pariac commander Acting Assistant Commissioner Chad Gillies said complacency was a concern despite public health orders remaining in place.
"We in NSW need to be conscious that the pandemic is not yet over - as such, we must maintain all relevant safety precautions, including social distancing, good hygiene and checking into venues using the NSW Health QR codes via the Service NSW app," Acting Assistant Commissioner Gillies said.
"If you do not have a smartphone, it is a requirement of all venues to have a manual check-in option. These details are required in the event of contact tracers needing to identify any persons who have been at a venue during a certain time period.
"We have been doing these things for more than a year now, it has become common practice to check-in wherever we go - whether it be a licensed venue or not. It's on the patrons, licensees and staff members to ensure all procedures are followed so we can continue to live in a COVID-Safe way."
