NSW Police has detailed some of the additional care work officers have been undertaking as part of their COVID-19 compliance checks.
Commander of the North West Metropolitan Region and Assistant Commissioner for NSW Police, Leanne McCusker said since the launch of Operation Stay At Home last month, officers attached to her Command had called ambulances, arranged food, organised additional welfare checks and provided cleaning products to members of the community as part of their taskings.
“Officers across Parramatta and Nepean Police Area Commands have contacted Emergency Operation Centres to arrange food and additional welfare requests for a number of people following welfare checks,” Assistant Commissioner McCusker said.
“Police have also purchased incidental emergency food items such as bread and milk for those waiting for food deliveries and, in one instance, officers brought a man who was self-isolating a surface spray disinfectant, as he had none in his house,” she said.
Assistant Commissioner McCusker said these examples showed how important regular compliance and welfare checks were.
She commended the work of police officers and, in particular, those in Local Government Areas of concern, who were “going above and beyond in their commitment to the community”.
“We’ve even seen officers reach into their own pockets to pay for essential groceries like bread and milk for people in isolation who can’t get to the shops, or are waiting for a food delivery,” she said.
“Not only are these welfare checks keeping people compliant to the stay-at-home order, but the extra police presence in the community is providing those in lockdown the extra support they need,” Assistant Commissioner McCusker said.
