How police plan to stop a second Covidiot lockdown protest before it even begins as Sydneysiders are warned 'if we don't get you, your mates will' – so would you dob in a friend?
Yet another anti-lockdown protest is being planned for Sydney this weekend but furious police are warning potential troublemakers - 'your mates will dob you in'.
After last Saturday's violent Freedom Rally in the CBD, New South Wales Police have received 15,000 Crime Stopper tip-offs from fed-up Sydneysiders eager to tattle on the 3,500 demonstrators in attendance.
So far the calls have led to about 200 people either being charged or fined, with a police strike force also set up to trawl through footage and identify others breaching the state's strict coronavirus measures.
Yet another anti-lockdown protest is being planned for Sydney this weekend but furious police are warning potential troublemakers - 'your mates will dob you in'. Pictured: Rally for Freedom protesters in Sydney's CBD on July 24, 2021
After last Saturday's violent Freedom Rally in the CBD, New South Wales Police have received 15,000 Crime Stopper tip-offs. Pictured: Protesters are arrested by police at Sydney's Rally For Freedom in Sydney's CBD on July 24, 2021
Would you dob in your Covidiot mate?
Would you dob in your Covidiot mate?
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The Greater Sydney region has been under stay-at-home orders for the past five weeks with a total of 2,574 Covid cases crippling the state's economy and leaving about five million residents only able to leave home for essential reasons.
With the gruelling lockdown now extended for at least another month on Wednesday until August 28, murmurs on social media are indicating another demonstration is now in the works.
'What we saw today was 3,500 very selfish boofheads - people that thought the law didn't apply to them,' NSW Police Minister David Elliott said in the wake of the protest.
'The fact that we have had nearly two (to three) reports for every person who attended last week's rally suggests to me that there is zero tolerance out there for people who want to do the wrong thing.
'Just assume that when you're involved in this sort of activity that's putting your health at risk, one of your mates is going to dob you in.'
Pictured: Police arrest protesters at Victoria Park in Sydney's Glebe during the Rally For Freedom' in Sydney on July 24, 2021
Pictured: A demonstrator holds up a bizarre handwritten placard at the Freedom Rally in Sydney's CBD on July 24, 2021
The hard-line Police Minister added that Australia is not a nation of dobbers, but a nation of 'family lovers'.
'We are a nation of people that want to make sure their communities and families remain safe.
'And we're a nation of people who want to make sure we get out of this pandemic as swiftly as possible.'
Mr Elliott said there's been 'white-hot rage' over the protesters which saw swaths of anti-vaxxers chanting conspiracy theory rhetoric and clashing with police.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott and Deputy Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon have sent out a stern warning to potential protesters this weekend
With the gruelling lockdown now extended for at least another month on Wednesday until August 28, murmurs on social media are indicating another demonstration is now in the works. Pictured: A man is arrested at the Freedom Rally in Sydney's CBD on July 24, 2021
'It is not an exaggeration to say that 99 per cent of the population is doing the right thing,' Mr Elliott said.
'And that 99 per cent of the population is very, very frustrated with those people that are pushing envelope, and flouting the laws.'
'Most members of parliament and most media outlets can feel the white-hot rage from those of us who are staying at home under very difficult circumstances
'Managing students, managing family illness, managing loneliness, managing mental health, managing work commitments and managing the financial stress while others just want to go out and completely ignore the health orders.'
Mr Elliott said there's been 'white-hot rage' over the protesters which saw swaths of anti-vaxxers chanting conspiracy theory rhetoric and clashing with police. Pictured: protesters take part in the Freedom Rally in Sydney's CBD on July 24, 2021
Pictured: A woman is taken to the ground and arrested by police at the Freedom Rally in Sydney's CBD on July 24, 2021
If demonstrations are to go ahead police say they will be 'well resourced' to deal with those in attendance, with NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon warning that police numbers would be significantly boosted.
'Certainly social media and a range of covert measures are being used by people to organise, because it's very clear they are aware that what they are organising is illegal,' he said.
'The fact that we've had 15,000 reports to Crime Stoppers subsequent to Saturday shows there is overwhelming community support for police to stop these protests.
'There'll be a range of methods employed (by police), we know how people need to come into the city and we know how people need to get together, so obviously we'll use whatever strategy we need to stop people from doing that.'