ACT Policing day of COVID-19 compliance action

ACT Policing is conducting a day of COVID-19 compliance action across Canberra today (Tuesday 10 August 2021).

More than 50 police officers are checking on the more than 860 people currently undertaking quarantine in the ACT, as well as more than 240 people subjected to stay-at-home directions.

Police will be stopping vehicles both within the ACT and at ACT/NSW border crossings during the day to ensure people who are in the ACT from interstate or entering the ACT are entitled to be in the Territory.

Police will also be attending construction sites to ensure any workers from outside the ACT have the correct permits or exemptions.

In ongoing compliance activity, in the week to 8am Monday 9 August 2021, ACT Policing conducted 391 in-person compliance checks of homes, hotels and businesses.

Due to the increased number of people required to quarantine in the ACT, the joint call centre was again stood-up by ACT Policing on Wednesday 4 August. By 8am Monday more than 1600 people had been contacted by ACT Emergency Services Agency volunteers or ACT Health personnel.

More than 2,500 drivers were stopped by police on Canberra’s roads last week in targeted COVID-19 compliance traffic stops.

One caution was issued during the week and seven people were directed to leave the ACT.

Three infringement notices was issued and four people were arrested. These arrests bring the total number of people arrested for breaches of COVID-19 Public Health Directions in the ACT since March 2020 to nine.

ACT Policing COVID-19 Taskforce Acting Inspector Ben Willis said the compliance activity was part of an effort to keep the ACT COVID-19 free.

“Compliance checks are an important part of our strategy to stop the virus from spreading into the ACT,” said Acting Inspector Willis.

“Tradespeople and transport workers who have been in COVID-19-affected areas must have the correct exemptions to carry out their essential work in Canberra.

“And I would like to thank the people who are undertaking quarantine for doing the right thing, for staying in place, and for their continued cooperation when we check in on them.”

Police are still urging the community to report incidents of non-compliance through the appropriate channels.

For the most recent information on the ACT’s COVID-19 restrictions, visit the ACT COVID-19 site.

For general enquiries – including to make reports of non-compliance, contact the COVID-19 Helpline on 6207 7244 (8am-8pm, 7 days a week). For police assistance call 131 444 and only contact Triple Zero (000) for emergencies.

Media enquiries

Police Media — (02) 5126 9070, act-police-media@afp.gov.au