Tasmania Police perform hundreds of spot checks to ensure self-isolation compliance

Police are performing hundreds of random checks on Tasmanians in self-isolation to ensure they are complying with requirements.

Tasmania Police officers are assisting Biosecurity Tasmanian staff at Hobart Airport. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

TASMANIAN police are conducting an average of 10 checks an hour on people in quarantine across the state as enforcement measures step up amid the coronavirus crisis.

The escalation of action to ensure compliance with requirements to contain the spread of the deadly virus was promised by Premier Peter Gutwein.

Tasmania Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins said more than 200 compliance and welfare checks on people in quarantine had been performed between 6pm on Wednesday and 3pm on Thursday.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Higgins said to date, all people checked were home and self-isolating.

The random checks involve officers physically going to a person’s address to ensure they are complying.

“There have been very high levels of compliance and understanding of the requirements, and no penalties have been imposed,” he said.

“Additional police resources are also supporting Biosecurity Tasmania staff at airports and at the Spirit of Tasmania terminal so that non-essential travellers know what they are required to do in quarantine.”

Fines of up to $16,800 or six months’ jail have been threatened for those caught not complying as authorities adopt a hard-line approach to protect Tasmanians from the virus.

Mr Gutwein last week called for people to dob in those who were ignoring directions to quarantine, and a large number of reports have been received.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Higgins said the force had officers embedded in a special Covid Response Unit to follow up reports of non-compliance.

He said each report was examined and where necessary, a police compliance team was sent to visit the quarantined person.