Police COVID-19 compliance action turns seven back at NSW border

A day-long ACT Policing operation focusing on COVID-19 compliance saw seven people attempting to enter the ACT in contravention of Public Health Directions turned back at the NSW border.

Altogether more than 1,800 checks were carried out by more than 50 police during the day of action held as part of the campaign to keep the ACT COVID-19 free.

The seven people turned back at the NSW border were discovered during 664 roadside checks.

In addition to those checks, another 318 vehicle checks were made on Canberra’s roads, with a particular focus on ensuring tradespeople and transport workers had applied for, and been granted, permission to continue their essential work.

In-person compliance checks were carried out at 427 premises occupied by people in quarantine or the subject of stay-at-home orders, and a further 439 telephone checks were made by ACT Emergency Services Agency volunteers or ACT Health personnel from the joint call centre at Fairbairn.

ACT Policing COVID-19 Taskforce Acting Inspector Ben Willis said the results underscored the importance of the community’s cooperation under the health directions.

“It is reassuring that from nearly 900 checks of people at home, every one of them was where they had to be. These people have accepted the personal inconvenience for the benefit of the Canberra community,” Acting Inspector Willis said.

“Discovering seven people trying to come to the ACT despite the health directions that have been in place for several weeks now is a little worrying.

“It’s a reality that the ACT borders remain open but with certain restrictions, police will continue with proactive compliance activities to find those people doing the wrong thing.

“While we are relying on people’s honesty, we need the community to let us know about non-compliance.”

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