Tasman Police to assist at Auckland checkpoints

By George Turner

Members of the Tasman District police have been called into Hamilton, to assist with law enforcement at the Waikato/Auckland border checkpoints.

Tasman police staff will join others from Canterbury, Bay of Plenty, Southland and Wellington as 45 staff fly to Hamilton later this evening.

An Air Force C-130 Hercules has been specially chartered to fly in 32 of these 45 staff.

They are the first of three groups that will rotate in to provide relief for checkpoint staff, ensuring Level 4 compliance in the Auckland region.

Waikato Police district commissioner Bruce Bird says the support from the country’s police force during the lockdown has been, and continues to be, invaluable.

“Our colleagues in Tamaki Makaurau still have a big job ahead. Alert Level 4 enforcement is still a key focus for them as well as the checkpoints, which are playing a big part of the reassurance we provide to communities on both sides of the Waikato/Auckland boundary.”

Police today released national compliance data for Alert Levels 3 and 4.

As of Wednesday 8 September, police have reported almost 4,000 quarantine infringements.

Almost three-quarters of these infractions were issued due to people failing to remain at their homes or residences outside of essential travel.

204 people have been charged with criminal offences under the Health Act, such as failing to comply with restrictions and assaulting or obstructing an enforcement officer.

Auckland is set to remain in Alert Level 4 until 13 September.