Victorian man fined for breaching ACT COVID 19 directions
ACT Policing has issued a Criminal Infringement Notice (CIN) to a 38-year-old man from Laverton, Victoria for breaching the ACT’s COVID-19 directions.
The man crossed the Victoria-New South Wales border with a permit on the evening of Friday, 24 July 2020. The conditions of this permit required the man to self-isolate at a residence in Sydney for 14 days.
On Saturday, 25 July, NSW Police Force were unable to locate or contact the man in order to conduct a compliance check, and suspected he was not complying with the direction for Victorian residents to self-isolate.
Further police enquiries established that the man had travelled to the ACT, and assistance from ACT Policing was sought to locate the man.
About 7.30pm that evening, police located the man in Fyshwick. The man did not have exemption from the ACT Chief Health Officer to enter the ACT.
The man was instructed to comply with the Public Health Direction that he self-isolate in NSW for 14 days, and subsequently provided with an escort out of the ACT to complete his self-isolation period in NSW, per the requirements of his NSW border crossing permit.
He has since been issued with a $1,000 Criminal Infringement Notice.
Detective Superintendent Jason Kennedy, Commander of the ACT Policing COVID-19 Taskforce, said police would take decisive action against people who ignore the ACT’s COVID-19 directions.
“The flouting of the ACT’s Public Health directions, particularly by people travelling into the territory from known COVID-19 hot-spots, simply will not be tolerated by police,” Detective Superintendent Kennedy said.
“Our priority remains keeping the Canberra community safe, particularly those who may be at a higher risk of health complications.
“ACT Policing will continue to take a proactive approach to limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the Territory, and will work with neighbouring law enforcement agencies to ensure those travelling across state and territory borders are doing so lawfully.”
Media enquiries
Police Media — (02) 5126 9070, act-police-media@afp.gov.au