Police reveal plans for Anzac Day patrols in north Brisbane during COVID-19 lockdown

Police are urging people to pay their Anzac Day respects at home rather than take the risk of gathering at war memorials on Brisbane’s north side.

People have been urged not to gather at war memorials on Anzac Day.

Police are urging people to pay their Anzac Day respects in their driveway rather than memorials and other places where they might usually gather.

Road Policing Command Inspector Peter Flanders said it was important to recognise wartime sacrifice but staying safe from COVID-19 was more important.

“By all means show your respect for our fallen and serving officers, that’s incredibly important to our nation, but please look at the bigger picture here for this year, that is to keep our nation healthy,” Insp Flanders said.

$1 for 28 days: Full digital subscription

“We would love for every radio station, at 6am on Anzac Day, play the Last Post and have as many people as possible walk to the end of their driveway (where they are social distancing) with their mobile phone in hand playing whatever their favourite station is standing there with their heads bowed, as a family, and listen to the last post.

“I think that would show an incredible amount of respect in a really beautiful way and still not jeopardise anything to do with the health of our nation.”

Inspector Flanders said police would be conducting their normal patrols on Anzac Day, and would not be targeting any particular places looking for Anzac Day-related gatherings.

If any such gatherings were discovered they would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

“Obviously if there’s 20 people gathered around a memorial and they are close together we are going to go over and we are going to have a chat to them and ask them to disperse,” Insp Flanders said.

MORE NEWS

Snake crawls out of home toilet

Coronavirus sparks backyard camping craze

Plan for shortcut between suburbs

Trucks to invade residential streets

School makes gear to protect against COVID-19

“As with a lot of policing, at that point it will be their choice as to whether they disperse respectfully or whether they get a ticket because of their attitude.

“We’re desperately not there to go out and enforce. We’re desperately there to (get people to) please understand how important this is.

“If I can put this in colloquial terms: We’ve got the enemy (coronavirus) on its knees, let’s not let it get back up. Let’s give it one last kick and keep it down.”

RSL Queensland has a guide to marking Anzac Day at home, and a link to audio of a short commemorative service, at https://rslqld.org/News/Latest-News/Light-up-the-dawn