Police crack down on COVID-19 rules with 11 people fined and more than 400 complaints

A police crackdown on Queenslanders who break strict coronavirus directions has been ramped up with 11 fines overnight. It comes after police received more than 400 complaints about people not quarantining.

ELEVEN more people have been fined overnight for breaking coronavirus related health directions, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll revealed.

Ms Carroll said the offenders had been “blatantly disregarding” the warnings around isolation and quarantining.

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Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll is urging Queenslanders to limit their movements these school holidays. Picture: Darren England

Since midnight police have intercepted 4040 vehicles at the Queensland border, where tough entry restrictions apply.

Seventy-five people have been turned around.

Ms Carroll said police were investigating reports of one vehicle driving onto the footpath to navigate past barriers.

Police have received nearly 400 complaints regarding non compliance with self-quarantining measures.

As schools prepare to break up today Ms Carroll urged parents not to treat this as a typical vacation.

“Please limit your movements around Queensland and treat it as a break not a holiday,” she said.

Usually packed Queensland beaches are expected to be sparsely populated as police warn people off sun baking.

People can attend the beach to exercise and swim.

Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski revealed that hundreds of police officers were currently offline due to the coronavirus.

He said this included more than 100 officers who had returned from overseas and were quarantining, others who had symptoms but had not been tested and some who had tested positive.

“It’s not impacting on our resources at this stage,” he said.

Since February 4 close to 45,000 self quarantine notices have been issued to Queenslanders.

Queensland police have carried out compliance visits to 4,443 businesses and 2,490 individuals.

Ms Carroll said the majority of Queenslanders had responded well to social distancing measures but some still weren’t heeding the message .

“Even yesterday, people were still working out in the park gym area. I contacted my place to do something about them,” she said.

“So I think a little bit of this may continue. But certainly, I am pleased with the compliance. But if you are recklessly disregarding what’s asked of you, you will be fined.”

Fourteen people have been fined for non-compliance of self-isolating and social distancing directives.

Several of these included people trying to enter Aboriginal communities in lockdown.

“We have clearly told the public that we have locked down our Indigenous communities for a very good reason,” she said.

“They are a vulnerable community. So once you leave that community you cannot go back.”

Earlier today a backpacker trying to make it from Bryon Bay to the Sunshine State was hauled off a bus at the Queensland border and turned around.

State Disaster Co-ordinator Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said Queensland was in a good position but stricter measures were a possibility.

“Look at the globe, where would you rather be at the moment? I know where I would rather be,” he said.

“But we all need to work together on this to make sure that we keep this going because it will be taking a long time to get on top of this.”

Since early March crime rates have dramatically fallen including assaults (26%), sexual assaults (19%), robberies (10%) and burglaries (16%).

Domestic violence has also fallen by about five per cent however its unclear whether reporting mechanisms are a factor.

Ms Carroll said police would be launching a online DV portal in coming days.