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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Lanie Tindale

ACT police ordered people to leave Canberra 483 times, made 53 arrests since lockdown

COVID-19 compliance checking at the Federal Highway border crossing. Picture: Keegan Carroll

Canberra police have received 2052 reports of COVID-19 health order compliance breaches since lockdown started on August 12.

They said they have also issued 483 directions to leave the ACT and conducted 4943 personal and 1800 business compliance checks.

ACT Policing said officers had arrested 53 people for COVID rule breaches, issued 118 cautions and 66 infringements, and made 814 move on orders.

Despite this, ACT Policing said they were "pleased with the community's response to the initial easing of restrictions prior to the long weekend".

"Only a handful of gatherings exceeding the new limits were reported to police, and the incidents that required police attendance were resolved quickly and peacefully," they said.

Detective Superintendent Naomi Binstead said it was imperative Canberrans continued to abide by health orders.

"Now is not the time for people to take shortcuts, we're just days away from being able to have a few more people getting together and Canberra doesn't need a 'super spreader' event to threaten that pathway forward now," she said.

"We will continue to enforce the ACT public health directions as the restrictions change, so now more than ever I ask the community to keep up to date on the rules.

"We know there may be differences between the rules in the ACT and other jurisdictions. Everyone undertaking essential travel must be aware of what the need to do before returning home."

  • Traffic compliance stops: 41,028
  • Directions to leave the ACT: 483
  • Personal compliance checks: 4943
  • Business compliance checks: 1,800
  • Arrests for alleged breach of health directions: 53
  • Infringements issued for alleged breach of health directions: 66
  • Cautions for alleged breach of health directions: 118
  • Move on orders: 814
  • Compliance complaints received: 2052
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