Police thankful for community support during COVID-19 response

COVID-19

ACT Policing would like to thank the Canberra community for its continued assistance and cooperation during the ACT COVID-19 lockdown.

Police continue to conduct compliance operations to support the public health directions.

Since the ACT-wide COVID-19 lockdown came into effect on Thursday, 12 August 2021, police have conducted 6212 compliance traffic stops, including at border checkpoints and random locations across the ACT.

Police have also conducted 2280 compliance checks at Canberra residences and businesses, in addition to more than 3000 conducted in the ACT since interstate restrictions prior to the local lockdown.

Twelve infringement notices and 36 cautions have been issued for public health direction breaches in the ACT during the lockdown period, with 101 people directed to leave the ACT.

ACT Policing COVID-19 Taskforce Superintendent Naomi Binstead thanked the community for their continued high level of compliance with the public health directions.

“Most people are doing the right thing, and I think it’s important to acknowledge our incredible community effort during this lockdown,” Superintendent Binstead said.

“We will continue to conduct compliance checks at homes and businesses. On the roads, we will work with our colleagues from NSW Police to ensure people entering the ACT have the appropriate exemptions or permissions to do so.

“Officers are still detecting people in Canberra who should not be here, which is of concern. Anyone who has not followed instructions of both ACT and NSW Health authorities will be ordered to leave the ACT or sent home and may be prosecuted.”

Today, ACT Policing arrested two men, aged 40 and 42, at the Barton Highway border crossing after they had travelled from Victoria through NSW without an exemption.

ACT Policing Superintendent of Communications Rebecca Goddard said police appreciated the information being supplied by the community.

“We are hearing from plenty of people who want the make sure the community is adhering to all the public health directions appropriately,” Superintendent Goddard said.

“So far during the lockdown, we have responded to more than 400 compliance complaints from the public. We do continue to receive some calls to emergency and 131 444 for health related questions that police can’t answer.

“I do also ask people to consider whether it may be better reporting a compliance concern online to Access Canberra instead of by phone to police or the ACT Government COVID-19 hotline.”

The most up-to-date COVID-19 information for the ACT can be found at the ACT COVID-19 website.

To make reports of non-compliance, you can complete a form via Access Canberra or 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.

For journalists: Broadcast quality video of the arrests at the border crossing can be downloaded from Hightail. This link will expire in seven days.

Media enquiries

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

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