Coronavirus SA: Police set up quarantine enforcement, business closure units

Businesses and people who ignore strict coronavirus rules will soon find themselves in the sights of a new police squad tasked with enforcing the containment measures.

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A dedicated police team is randomly conducting checks on South Australians who are subject to strict home quarantine to ensure they are complying with the rules.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has revealed hundreds of individuals detected at 12 border checkpoints, along with thousands of South Australians who have arrived by air, have been ordered to self-quarantine for 14 days.

“We are checking. People should expect that there may be a knock on the front door from a police officer,” he said.

“If they are found to be non-compliant there may be consequences and we are escalating the number of checks being undertaken.

“We are looking for voluntary compliance. We want people to comply, and by making these visits it may be the case someone needs to be reminded of their obligations.

“If they are found to be noncomplying, then we can initiate some further action if we believe that person is presenting a risk to the wider community.’’

Police are maintaining a database of people arriving in SA who are required to self-quarantine. The Health Department is also providing SAPOL the names of those who have arrived by air.

Mr Stevens said he was in the process of expanding the task of random checks to all frontline officers, because of the “significantly increasing number becoming subject to this (quarantine) measure”.

And in the worst case scenario, where police have to deal with a non-compliant individual who is either a suspected or confirmed carrier of the virus, a group of 17 officers are trained in the use of personal protection equipment and decontamination procedures.

Police have also established a COVID-19 investigation group, comprising uniformed officers and detectives from the Licensing Enforcement Branch, Crime Services Branch and Firearms Branch.

The group is supported by inspectors from Consumer and Business Affairs.

The unit is conducting compliance checks on venues that have been required to close or modify their trading activities under the new regimes announced this week. Breaches, which carry a fine of up to $75,000, have already been detected and one undisclosed venue was closed by officers.

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Mr Stevens said police would also act if information was received indicating any breaches.

“We are receiving lots of calls from the community about neighbours or others known to them who are apparently not complying.”

Police on Tuesday mobilised a group of 67 officers to man border checkpoints and inform residents returning to SA or those visiting of their quarantine requirements. The individuals must nominate an address they are staying at and are made aware of the potential consequences, which could include a fine of up to $20,000 for breaching the direction.

In the first 20 hours of the operation, 1800 vehicles were checked. Most were deemed “essential travellers”, but 300 individuals were told they had to self-quarantine.

“We are taking a compassionate, a consultative approach to this. We are looking to engage with people who we consider do not normally come into contact with police,’’ Mr Stevens said.

“Our hope is by having this level of engagement and explaining their obligations that we will get voluntary compliance. On that basis, we are conducting checks on people not just for compliance, but also for their welfare to see if there is any support or assistance they require.’’

Like every agency tasked with dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, SAPOL is bracing itself for what may lie ahead. It is preparing for scenarios ranging from social unrest to a shortage of police officers if its workforce also become victims of the virus.

“We are well practised in dealing with emergencies that relate to fire, flood or extreme weather, but this is an invisible enemy,’’ Mr Stevens said.

“I think that plays out in terms of community understanding of what we are dealing with, and it probably makes it difficult for people to understand the need for some of the restrictions.

“For police, it will change our focus in how we prioritise resources we have available. We expect our workforce is as susceptible to this virus as every other member of the community, so we are making plans to be able to adapt how we do our job to provide that public safety role.’’

He said non-essential functions were being identified and some may be deferred. Some services at local police stations may also be scaled back.

“These challenges are not just for police. It is for all emergency services and the essential services we rely on in the community,’’ he said.

“As the State Co-ordinator, I am ensuring those essential services have plans in place so they can continue to provide the level of service the community absolutely requires. This includes health professionals, other emergency services and utilities.’’

Police are also preparing for crime increases in some areas.

SA Police Commisioner Grant Stevens. Picture” Tricia Watkinson

“We are mindful of the potential (rise) as restrictions become more severe and protracted, and are positioning ourselves to respond,’’ Mr Stevens said. “There is a likelihood of an increase in domestic violence reports, some types of theft may increase as people become stressed, and there may be instances of public order disturbance we have to respond to.

“Additionally, we may have offences that relate to people not complying with directions under the major emergency declaration.’’

He said police were watching for any signs of developing social disorder – such as increased aggression or violence at supermarkets, as seen interstate and overseas

“It is pleasing to see so far that while we have seen unnecessary panic buying, we have not seen any behaviour that would warrant police intervention.

“Having said that, we are paying attention to supermarkets and Centrelink offices and we will respond to calls for assistance from retailers whenever there are incidents that put people’s safety at risk.’’

Mr Stevens, who issued the wide-ranging orders closing borders and many businesses as State Co-ordinator under the Emergency Management Act, said it was “challenging’’ to balance the impact these decisions were having on the community with the risk to those most vulnerable if the steps were not taken.

But he said the fact that SA was probably only days away from cases of community transmission of COVID19 had reinforced the need to restrict contact between individuals.

“The advice tells us that once we have community transmission the rate of infection is going to grow exponentially,’’ he said. “It means we are going to have further pressures on the health system, we are going to have challenges in staffing critical functions and providing and maintaining services, and this may result in further restrictions we are going to have to apply.

“The single most important thing people can do is take heed of the advice – that is restrict, as much as possible, physical interaction outside of their direct family and comply with the directions.

“As Commissioner, I am committed to keep South Australia safe. And as the State Co-ordinator, under the Act, I am committed to making sure health are provided every opportunity to achieve their goal of flattening the curve of the disease spread.’