Police to swarm state’s tourist hot spots to enforce lockdown

Police have again told Tasmanians to “stay at home” over the Easter weekend, warning of random spot checks on the state’s roads.

FROM Bridport to Boat Harbour and Bruny Island, police have promised to patrol holiday hot spots over Easter to ensure compliance with strict stay-at-home directives.

This week, Premier Peter Gutwein told Tasmanians this Easter would be like no other and warned people not to travel to their shacks.

Authorities have repeatedly urged Tasmanians to stay in their primary place of residence as a measure to limit the spread of coronavirus.

We can only educate for so long before we start prosecuting those for blatant breaches of the directions. – Acting Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins

STRICTER MEASURES INTRODUCED FOR EASTER HOLIDAYS

EXPECT TO BE PULLED OVER, TURNED AROUND AND CHARGED

Tasmania Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins said motorists should avoid non-essential travel and can expect random spot checks on the roads.

Motorists have been warned to expect random spot checks on the state’s roads this Easter long weekend. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

He said boat ramps would also be patrolled and random checks of holiday shacks conducted.

“If you’re away from your primary residence, don’t go to Bruny Island. At the ferry we’ll have police and they will turn you around and you could face prosecution for disobeying the directions,” he said.

“We will have extra patrols in the coastal areas to ensure the communities are safe there and also to ensure that others aren’t coming into it to put those communities at risk further.

“This means, stay at home, heed the warnings and keep your community safe and we will get through this.

“If you don’t comply with the directions that are given, we can only educate for so long before we start prosecuting those for blatant breaches of the directions.”

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Jonathan Higgins. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Acting Deputy Commissioner Higgins said Tasmanians must remain in their primary

residence unless they are accessing essential services such as food or medical supplies.

He said populations at holiday hot spots usually spiked over Easter, but the message this year was clear — stay home.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Higgins said more than 5800 checks of people in quarantine had been conducted in recent weeks.

Fines of up to $16,800 or up to six months in prison can apply for those found guilty of failing to comply with a lawful direction of an emergency management worker.