Police have issued a stern warning to stay out of remote communities in the Kimberley as COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, after four people were caught breaching the travel ban last week.
While the Kimberley is due to reopen on June 5, 274 remote communities will stay in lockdown until further notice from the State Government.
District Superintendent Greg Crofts said four people were caught entering Beagle Bay and Kalumburu without the correct permissions over the long weekend.
"We've prosecuted a couple of people for going to the wrong spot and going to remote communities," he said.
"We had one at Beagle Bay and we had three people that went to Kalumburu … these things are very disappointing but from all the work and all the people moving around, everyone's been doing the right thing.
"If you see a sign saying not to go somewhere, you are absolutely obliged [by] that community not to enter, and also by law, not to enter."
Lockdown positives
It is not known when remote community restrictions will be lifted, but there have been calls to ease travel bans as more residents begin to move back into towns.
In response to the calls, WA Health Minister Roger Cook reiterated any further decision about restrictions would need to be in consultation with communities after June 5.
And while Mr Crofts said travel ban breaches had been frustrating for police, there were positives to come out of the Kimberley’s three-month lockdown.
"We’re seeing families being families again, we’ve seen a significant drop in crime right across the Kimberley — it’s the best in the state," he said.
"We’ve seen much safer communities … and people seem to be happy."
"I think we’re still very nervous as a community. There’s a lot of people worried these tourists are coming up and we want to make sure everybody keeps doing the right thing.
"This is about people’s lives — we’re not out of the woods yet."
