Two men have been charged and 40 railway infringement notices issued to soccer fans travelling from Sydney to Gosford return March 19.
About 3pm Saturday, March 19, 2016, offi cers from the Police Transport Command boarded a train at Hornsby Railway Station carrying about 200 soccer fans travelling from Sydney to a match in Gosford. Police will allege many passengers were intoxicated and were engaging in antisocial behaviour. Offi cers seized a large amount of alcohol from persons on the train and issued 15 alcohol-related railway infringement notices and two criminal infringement notices for offensive language.
One passenger was removed from the train at Woy Woy Railway Station and a female police offi cer was assaulted by an unknown person. Additional offi cers met the train at Gosford and escorted the fans to the match and at the end of the match, additional offi cers were deployed onto Sydney bound trains. At Gosford Railway Station, an allegedly intoxicated 22-year-old man struck a police offi cer twice in the face. He was arrested and taken to Gosford Police Station where he was charged with assault police, resist arrest, offensive behaviour, offensive language and disobey move on direction. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Gosford Local Court on Tuesday, April 19. A further 18 railway infringement notices were issued by offi cers at Gosford Railway Station for alcohol and ticketing offences.
A 34-year-old man was also found to be allegedly intoxicated and abusive on a train heading to Sydney. He was removed at Hornsby Railway Station and issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for the offences of drink alcohol on train, resist arrest, interfere with comfort of other passengers, offensive language, and fail to supply particulars. He is due to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, April 28. A further seven railway infringement notices were issued before the train reached Sydney at 9.20pm. Police will be reviewing CCTV footage for possible further action.
Media release, Mar 20, 2016 NSW Police Media