The introduction of COVID-19 restrictions has "dramatically" increased the workload for Hunter police, but officers will continue to get on with their jobs for the sake of their communities, the NSW Police Association says.
Dozens of people have been fined across the region for breaking the new rules since they were introduced, with the Hunter's latest charge levelled at a Clarence Town man in Newcastle West on Thursday afternoon.
The 20-year-old was spotted on Steel Street and checks revealed he had been previously warned about being out in public without a legitimate reason - he had received a $1000 on-the-spot fine on Tuesday.
Police said the man was not compliant with officers and allegedly used offensive language during the encounter.
Meanwhile, police have faced jobs in recent weeks that have involved dealing with alleged offenders accused of spitting or deliberately coughing - taking advantage of the heightened anxiety around health precautions.
A woman was charged last month after police arrested her for allegedly spitting at a supermarket employee at Charlestown and police this week charged a man at Forster - north of the Hunter - with allegedly spitting at two paramedics on Monday.
On Friday, police cautioned a teenager after an elderly couple at Nelson Bay reported this week that someone had leaned out a car window and coughed at them while they were walking.
Police said the 16-year-old coughed on the 73-year-old man and 68-year-old woman at Victoria Parade as they approached a pedestrian crossing.
"He and the other occupants in the vehicle started laughing before the vehicle drove off," police said in a statement.
NSW Police Association Hunter representative Ian Allwood said the union welcomed last week's introduction of $5000 on-the-spot fines for people who deliberately coughed on or spat at frontline workers.
"That's a vile act and had to be curtailed," he said.
"Police officers, and indeed frontline emergency service workers, are just normal people.
"They are mums and dads, they have responsibilities at home and they are putting themselves at risk to keep the community safe in these very changing and strange times."
Mr Allwood said the workload placed on officers had increased "dramatically" since the coronavirus restrictions were introduced, which "increases the stress on police".
He said the community had been "very supportive" and officers had spoken with hundred of people in the region to warn them that they were breaking the rules - he said most of them immediately complied.
In the lead-up to the Easter long-weekend, Mr Allwood said police were getting calls from the community every five to 10 minutes on average reporting those who were allegedly breaking the rules.
"We were getting emails pretty much each shift with the new law and interpretation of the legislation," he said.
"As police officers we were expected to be the fount of knowledge on that very quickly."
IN THE NEWS:
- Ardent Oceania recovers 13 more shipping containers in busy week off Hunter coast
- Toohey's News, The Podcast Episode 06: Newcastle Knights legend Marc Glanville
- Call for more caution on shared paths after bike-pedestrian crash at Lake Macquarie
- Newcastle salon owner and Australian Hairdressing Council boss Sandy Chong calls for hair industry to be shut down
- Together, not alone: Caves Beach business Sirron Holdings Group diverts production to stay alive
