Police chief Graham Ashton wanted private security for hotel quarantine

On the day hotel quarantine was announced, police chief Graham Ashton “made clear” he wanted private security guards, an inquiry has heard.

The inquiry has previously heard it was Victoria Police’s preference for private security firms to be the first line of defence in guarding returned travellers. Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

The Victorian chief commissioner of police Graham Ashton recommended private security be the first line of defence in hotel quarantine, the inquiry into the bungled scheme heard on Friday.

Commander Tim Tully, who led the police task force in hotel quarantine, confirmed Ashton’s recommendation was “made clear” on March 27, the day the hotel program was announced by Premier Daniel Andrews.

Mr Tully said by the time he was tasked with managing the task force the next day, the decision to hire private security was already in motion.

The request for private hotel security guards came from Victorian chief commissioner Graham Ashton.

Security bosses have suggested to the inquiry it may have worked better if the roles were reversed, with police as the first line of security backed by private guards.

Victoria Police were called to incidents in hotel quarantine 131 times over the 109 days of the program, according to Mr Tully.

Mr Tully told the inquiry he would only describe five of the 131 incidents as needing an urgent police response.

He wasn’t aware of any requests for a 24 hour police presence at the hotels, and felt it wasn’t required, he said.

Originally published as Police chief Graham Ashton wanted private security for hotel quarantine