An enforcement squad of more than 200 police officers is to hit the streets to ensure compliance with quarantine and gathering requirements during the current COVID-19 State of Emergency.
The WA Police squad are to perform spot checks on those required to self-isolate and enforce bans on gatherings.
Premier, Mark McGowan said the officers making up the squad had been brought together from a range of policing areas, along with 60 recruits who were due for graduation in two weeks but had been fast-tracked to boost frontline numbers.
“It will also be bolstered by a team of detectives who will be tasked to track and trace any self-isolation cases whose whereabouts cannot be accounted for,” Mr McGowan said.
He said the police would be able to issue on-the-spot fines of $1,000 for individuals and $5,000 for businesses found disobeying the rules.
“The WA Police Force has so far responded to more than 1,000 COVID-19 related tasks, including checks on those required to self-isolate,” Mr McGowan said.
“This is about saving lives and protecting the community,” he said.
“People need to understand that this is serious.”
Minister for Police, Michelle Roberts said it was regrettable that police were having to “babysit” people to enforce something as simple as self-isolation, but too many people were flaunting the rules.
“While our police and healthcare workers are working day and night to beat this thing, it’s not too much to ask for people to stay home,” Ms Roberts said.
