Northern Territory Police are reminding the public that wearing a mask when out of your home is a legal requirement, not a choice, under the Chief Health Officer Directions.

This morning police issued an infringement to a 36-year-old man in a Harriet Place coffee shop in the Darwin CBD for failing to wear a mask. He claimed that under the Constitutional Act in Britain he was not required to wear one.

Incident Controller Acting Commander Sachin Sharma said, “We are in the middle of a very serious situation now in the NT, and this kind of arrogant behaviour is not acceptable.”

Police are stepping up enforcement patrols in the lockdown areas and the public can expect to be asked why they are not at home.

The penalty for failing to abide by the Chief Health Officer Directions issued under section 56 of the Public and Environment Health Act 2011 is $5056 for an individual and $25,280 for a business.

For more information on COVID-19, visit www.coronavirus.nt.gov.au