Noosa police have thanked the community for their support during lockdown as Queensland Police continue to support Queensland Health during the Covid pandemic.
Officers from Noosa, Coolum, Eumundi, Cooroy and Pomona are continuing secondments to quarantine hotels, state border crossings and airports, while officers maintain and continue to perform regular policing duties.
Noosa Police officer in charge, Senior Sergeant Ben Carroll said the vast majority of residents have been doing the right thing.
“Our compliance strategy is one of compassion, education and compliance, and we are grateful for the wider Noosa community’s ongoing support as we all work together to get through this very difficult period in our history,“ Snr Sgt Carroll said.
Since the commencement of the pandemic police have issued over 80,000 quarantine notices and more than 55,000 international passengers have been processed into Queensland.
About 20,000 domestic flights have been met with police processing over 1.54 million passengers of which 40,000 passengers were issued quarantine notices and 2500 people were refused entry into Queensland at domestic airports.
Police have intercepted and processed over 1.3 million vehicles at road borders where 20,000 quarantine notices have been issued with 24,000 people turned around from entering Queensland.
Police have been kept busy as 40,000 quarantine checks have been conducted at homes or businesses.
In addition, there have been over 16,000 investigations conducted in response to reports from the public of people or businesses not abiding by the Chief Health Officer’s directions.
For a state of over five million people, police have only issued 2800 penalty notices during that entire period and prosecuted only 395 offenders for Covid breaches.
This includes a 34-year-old Sunshine Beach man, who has been issued a notice to appear for the offence of stealing after he allegedly removed Noosa Shire Council Covid signage from a Sunrise Beach playground.
Police will allege the man recorded himself on his mobile phone removing council signage from the park, which indicated it was closed due to Covid, and throwing it into a bin.
He will appear in the Noosa Magistrates Court on 24 August 2021.
On another occasion, police have taken action against a Coolum Beach business for failing to comply with Covid-19 directions after refusing to wear a mask and failing to provide details to police.
A 38-year-old Ninderry woman was arrested and taken into custody after she allegedly failed to provide information requested by officers.
It is also alleged the woman and her employees were requested to wear a facemask multiple times by police. Officers allege they attended the Birtwill Street cafe and requested the woman to wear a mask and returned three times the next day with the same request.
It will further be alleged she refused on each occasion and became verbally abusive towards officers.
The business owner has been issued with two infringements for fail to comply with Covid-19 direction.
She was fined $1378 for a contravene requirement charge while a 34-year-old employee was also issued with an infringement of $206 for failing to wear a mask.
