Victoria has recorded 24 new locally-acquired cases of coronavirus as health authorities grow increasingly concerned over a cluster of mystery cases in Melbourne s inner south-east.
Victorian Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt says "the Ring of Steel" implemented during Victoria's earlier lockdowns was "not a ring a steel" and was "neither efficient nor effective".
"It was hardly a ring of steel. For every number of cars, they had to wave through others, and whilst they stood in static positions on roadways, in many other locations, they could only see a short distance away; dog legs and other roads where other cars could go effectively unchecked and unimpeded," he said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (file) - AAP
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Most of NSW should soon turn green under Victoria s coronavirus traffic light system, potentially freeing hundreds of police from border duties.
Premier Daniel Andrews expects changes will be announced by Friday afternoon that will further free up travel from NSW into Victoria.
Victoria has reached 22 days with no new local coronavirus cases, with 27 active cases in hotel quarantine. I m very confident that tomorrow we ll be able to make some announcements about changes to settings, he said. That will mean a much greater freedom of movement. I would hope to have by the end of tomorrow no red zones in NSW, a much larger green zone, but there may be some remnants, a couple of local government areas, that remain orange.
Victoria Police says unpaid COVID-19 fines will be prosecuted, blames a guidance note for confusion
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MonMonday 18
JanJanuary 2021 at 8:34am
Police were responsible for enforcing Victoria s lockdown laws during the worst of the pandemic last year.
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Victoria Police says the force has not changed its policies for unpaid COVID-19 fines after the Police Association earlier spoke about its concerns fines were not being enforced.
Key points:
Earlier reports suggested many unpaid fines would not be prosecuted
Police blames a poorly worded internal document for confusion over the process
The Age newspaper on Monday morning reported that police officers had been instructed to hand out caution notices for many unpaid fines, instead of proceeding with charges, in a decision that had concerned the Police Association.
A poorly-worded email has been blamed for giving thousands of Victorians the impression that fines for breaching Covid restrictions will be dropped.
On Sunday it was understood that police had been told to give cautions for unpaid fines rather than enforcing them, allowing rule-breakers to escape penalty.
But Assistant Commissioner Rick Nugent has now explained a guidance note incorrectly sparked mass confusion and concern among police.
Pictured: Secretary of the Police Association Wayne Gatt addresses the media during a press conference
Pictured: Victoria Police Protective Services Officers patrol St Kilda beach in Melbourne on April 13 A guide was prepared for prosecutors and police with respect to prosecuting (Covid) fines - in hindsight, that document was poorly worded and doesn t appropriately articulate the process for fines and warnings, he said.