NSW Police Commissioner, Mick Fuller has committed his officers to use all the powers available to them to enforce mandatory quarantine and all other rules related to the COVID-19 health outbreak.
Commissioner Fuller said the current circumstances called for strong action and police stood ready to respond.
“This health crisis is like nothing we have ever experienced,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“I’m encouraged that most members of the community are taking this issue seriously and are adhering to the Government advice,” he said.
He said anyone now entering Australia was subject to a ministerial direction requiring them to self-isolate for 14 days from arrival.
“NSW Police Force is working with a number of State and Federal Agencies including NSW Health, Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Defence Force (ADF), to ensure this direction is adhered to,” the Commissioner said.
He said that following the recent amendment to the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW), police now had additional powers to issue Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) to anyone found to be in contravention of a ministerial direction.
“PINs carry on-the-spot fines of $1,000 for individuals and $5,000 for businesses,” he said.
Commissioner Fuller said the PINs were an addition to the existing enforcement powers available to officers, which included issuing Court Attendance Notices with a maximum penalty of up to $11,000 and/or six months imprisonment for individuals.
“NSW Police Force last week launched Operation Coronavirus to guide the organisation’s response, with highly-specialised officers providing practical and logistical support to our 17,000-strong workforce,” he said.
“The Police Operations Centre, the command location for coordinating all police activities in response to major incidents, has been made operational,” he said.
