Police crackdown nabs 14 people over COVID rules breaches

PEOPLE continued to flout COVID-19 restrictions in Swan Hill, Robinvale and Gannawarra Shire until last week.

Between August 16 and September 5, police patrolling the Swan Hill Police Service Area issued 14 infringement notices for breaching the Chief Health Officer’s directions.

Swan Hill police Senior Constable Travis Collier said on September 5 a 65-year-old Warrnambool man was intercepted on the Murray Valley Highway in Robinvale about 4.15pm.

“He was unable to produce a valid border permit after travelling from New South Wales,” Sen-Constable Collier said.

On August 30, a 22-year-old Kerang man, who police previously warned to wear a mask, was caught unmasked on Albert Street in Kerang about 10.05am.

On August 29, police issued notices in Swan Hill in two separate incidents, one to a 35-year-old Swan Hill woman, who had no reason to be out of home, on Campbell Street at 4.15am.

The other infringement was by a 34-year-old man from Williamstown, who was at Swan Hill railway station about 3.45pm with no valid reason.

On the previous day, police issued notices to a 19-year-old Swan Hill man and 22-year-old Lake Boga woman who were at Ken Harrison Reserve about 8.30pm without valid reason.

On August 26, just before midnight, police caught a 45-year-old Tresco man not wearing a mask while in Swan Hill.

Two notices were issued during separate intercepts by police on the Murray Valley Highway in Robinvale, one at 4pm on August 16, to a 27-year-old Robinvale man who didn’t have a permit, and around 10.30pm on August 20, to a man from Uralla in NSW, who did not have a valid border permit after travelling from NSW.

Police were investigating the remaining four infringement notices given in the Swan Hill region and Gannawarra Shire on August 25 and 26.

Swan Hill police Inspector Peter Robertson said people “obviously and deliberately” breaching the directions were liable to receive significant fines.

“For example, an individual who is found to be having an unlawful indoor gathering is liable for a fine of $5452,” Insp Robertson said.

“Unfortunately, a number of people in the Swan Hill area have already been subject to these penalties over recent weeks.”

Insp Robertson said police continued to conduct Operation Sentinel, a taskforce established in March last year to enforce containment measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, in the Swan Hill and Gannawarra regions

“While there are dedicated units for this operation, every police patrol unit across the state is tasked to ensure compliance with the (Chief Health Officer’s) directions,” he said.

Insp Robertson said there was no doubt communities were feeling the fatigue of extended periods of restricted movement and their impact on their daily lives.

“It’s difficult for everyone, and while the overwhelming majority of the community are observing the restrictions and staying safe, there is a small minority that are not,” he said.

“There has been an extended period of public information and education on the nature of the CHO directions relating to public and private gatherings and the five reasons we are able to leave home (before restrictions being lifted on Friday).”

Insp Robertson said the circumstances were about choice.

“Not only a choice to breach the CHO directions, but health and welfare choices,” he said.

“I’d encourage everyone to be patient, observe the health rules and keep themselves, their family and their community safe.”

As restrictions eased at 11.59pm on Thursday, Victoria Police implemented Operation Guardian in an effort to prevent Melburnians flocking to regional Victoria.