Seven people caught flouting coronavirus restrictions over Easter long weekend

NT POLICE fined a number of people over Easter, including one man who breached his quarantine by flying to Melbourne without an exemption to travel. The man had recently returned to Darwin and failed to quarantine on this AND on a previous occasion

NT Police Deputy Commissioner Murray Smalpage says NT Police handed out seven infringements to people who chose to flout tough coronavirus restrictions over the Easter long weekend. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

NT POLICE fined a number of people over Easter, including one to a man who breached his quarantine by flying to Melbourne without an exemption to travel.

The man had recently returned to Darwin and failed to quarantine on this and on a previous occasion.

Police handed out seven fines in total over the long weekend to people who chose to flout the coronavirus restrictions, as they prepare to ramp up the NT’s border control measures in coming weeks.

However, police have largely commended the good behaviour of Territorians for staying home and abiding by regulations over the weekend.

Deputy Commissioner Murray Smalpage said while a small number of people had broken the rules, the regulations in place were having a positive affect.

“It’s always frustrating when people don’t heed the advice that’s given,” he said.

“Quite frankly to social isolate, to maintain safe distance from other people … is an absolute prerequisite for the Territory and Australia as a whole, however it is pleasing to note the numbers are relatively low.

“At this point in time I’m pretty comfortable the regimen we have in place is adequate to prevent people from having unnecessary travel.”

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The weekend infringements included –

• Friday, April 10: A compliance team attended a property in Eaton and found a 50-year-old man had breached quarantine. The man returned from New South Wales by plane on the 30 March 2020.
• Saturday, April 11: A 46-year-old woman in Tennant Creek hosted a social gathering with over ten people in attendance.
• Saturday, April 11: A 63-year-old man in Tennant Creek also hosted a social gathering at his home with 19 people in attendance.
• Saturday, April 11: A 38-year-old woman in Tennant Creek hosted a social gathering with 30 persons present in her yard and house. The female had previously been cautioned and advised not to host people at the location
• Sunday, April 12: A 52-year-old man in Gray hosted a social gathering of 20 people. Police attended after the party was reported by a concerned member of the public. The host, who had previously been cautioned for hosting a gathering, was issued an infringement.
• Monday, April 13: A 43-year-old man breached his quarantine by flying to Melbourne without an exemption to travel. The man had recently returned to Darwin and failed to quarantine on this and a previous occasion. This is the second infringement notice issued to him for failing to quarantine.
• Monday, April 13: A 25-year-old man in the CBD was caught using gym equipment along the Esplanade. He accessed the equipment by lifting up the boundary tape of the clearly closed area.

Deputy Commissioner Murray Smalpage gives an update on operations over the Easter long weekend.

Posted by The NT News on Monday, 13 April 2020

Mr Smalpage also said NT Police would be ramping up border control in coming weeks.

“We’re probably going to ramp up additional points in coming weeks … we’re trying to make sure we’ve got the best possible coverage,” he said.

“As everyone knows we’re a very large Territory, we have lots of ground to cover.

“We’re working towards putting additional resources at additional points, hoping to reduce and identify any travel into the Northern Territory.”

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Mr Smalpage said while there hadn’t been many instances of motorists sneaking into the Territory using back roads, there were some who would travel on lesser known outback roads to enter.

He said while number plate recognition technology was being considered for border checkpoints, it had not yet been acquired to a suitable level.