High levels of compliance for COVID restrictions

Police have conducted well over 850 checks on people in quarantine across the State since 6pm on Wednesday 25 March to 3pm today and these checks are ongoing. These checks are physical checks.

Police also conducted a number of checks in public places across the State.

There have been very high levels of compliance and understanding of the requirements, and no penalties have been imposed.

But we continue to get reports of people flouting the requirements in some public places and it must be clear that this is not acceptable.

Those required to isolate must fully adhere to the requirement and be aware that if they blatantly disregard these directions that police will initiate formal proceedings.

Under the Emergency Management Act, there is a penalty of up to 100 penalty units ($16,800) or imprisonment not exceeding 3 months for failing to comply with a lawful requirement or direction of an emergency management worker.

Tasmania Police has officers embedded in the Covid Response Unit (CRU) to follow up reports of non-compliance.

The CRU is receiving a large number of reports and each report is triaged. Where necessary, the Police Compliance Team (CPT) is tasked to undertake a visit to the quarantined person.

In addition the CPT is undertaking random compliance and welfare checks of people who are required to quarantine.

Jonathan Higgins

Acting Deputy Commissioner

/Public Release. View in full here.