People are commonly breaching the Public Health Orders while out trying to buy or sell drugs, according to police
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On Wednesday, Western NSW Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie was asked if there were any commonalities with the people being issued PINS in Western NSW.
"There's no significant trend in it. People offer all sorts of reasons and none of them good enough to satisfy the current health order," he said.
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"One problem we are identifying is certainly people looking for other illicit substances in terms of prohibited drugs in particular.
"We are picking up a number of people moving around involved in the drug supply type activities and drug possession."
While NSW Police said they were "pleased" with the lower numbers of people breaching the health orders, particularly in Dubbo, it was concerning police were encountering many COVID-positive people.
Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said it was alarming, as it put front line police staff at risk when they were most needed.
"We've had a couple of incidents in the last 24-hours where police have encountered people who actually needed medical attention but weren't seeking it and hadn't been tested for COVID. But when they were tested, they were positive, " Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
"Please, the old 'she'll be right, I'm ok ' is not working for us at the moment. If you have any symptoms at all, or actually feel sick you need to get tested.
"We don't want you to be ill and we don't want our officers put in that position as well, because straight away after those instances we're loosing valuable frontline police. They need to be out there and out to be doing their work."