The introduction of a hands-free app that will allow officers to scan the residential address of motorists at regional checkpoints is a much-needed buffer for both parties against the spread of COVID-19, Western Australia's police union says.
Regional border closures remain in place across WA, temporarily carving the state into nine territories, following the declaration of a state of emergency earlier this month.
Prior to the release of the new G2G Pass app, motorists looking to pass through a border for work or exempted personal reasons were required to produce documentation to police officers stationed at the checkpoints, often requiring an encroachment on the 1.5m social distancing guidelines.
However, WA Police Union president Harry Arnott said the app would allow the transaction to take place without the need for motorists to roll down the windows.
"Previously there was an element of the chance of one-on-one contact with the window downs and items such as a driver's licence or proof of work document being passed back and forward, so it greatly increased the chance of contamination," Mr Arnott said.
"Our officers have been doing a lot of that without adequate personal protection. This will negate that risk."
Over 8,000 business and 1,000 private applications have already been received for the app — now active — which was developed in Perth over just two weeks.
Privacy guaranteed
WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said developers worked with WA state solicitor's office to ensure protect the privacy of applicants.
"Once the state of emergency is over, and we no longer need to have an electronic pass all information will be purged within 30 days," Commissioner Dawson said.
"That's been made very clear in the contractual arrangements and that is a guarantee."
South West District Superintendent Geoff Stewart said WA's police force had been buoyed by an overwhelmingly positive response to the regional road closures and willingness of motorists to abide by the restrictions.
However, Superintendent Stewart said mobile police patrols and spot checks would continue at cross points currently not under constant surveillance were motorists could enter regions.
"We will continue to stop people on back roads and if they don't need to be here we will look at prosecuting," he said.
"The community response to this though has overwhelmingly been they genuinely want to burn this out so we can all get back to some sort of normality."
