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Mildura police step up for COVID-19 lockdown challenges

WHILE most residents spend their days in the safety of their own homes in line with social isolation measures amid COVID-19, our police officers continue to patrol local streets around the clock, keeping the community safe.

However over the past month, since the protective measures to slow the spread of coronavirus were put in place, policing has been a somewhat different experience.

First Constable Shane Weeks, who has worked out of Mildura police station for the past two and a half years, said it has taken some residents longer than others to abide by the new rules.

In the first week he was called to four house parties, with the largest, a gathering of 15 to 20 people, prompting several warnings.

"One of them was initially argumentative with us but then realised why we're doing it ... people are pretty responsive to it now," Constable Weeks said.

"When we were called to the addresses, we explained to them there could be fines for the noise and every single person at the property could be fined $1652 for breaching COVID restrictions."

Constable Weeks said he handed out two fines about two weeks ago after people blatantly breached coronavirus measures by being out in public without good reason.

A woman received just under $2500 in fines for being drunk in public and breaching COVID-19 restrictions after she was found by police walking around after leaving a house party.

A man was also fined $1652 after repeatedly being found out in public.

"When I spoke to him it was about 4am. He stated he was going to the shops but obviously no shops were open and then he gave a secondary story but had no reason to be out.

"I gave him a warning to go home and he was seen half an hour later in the exact same spot."

Constable Weeks said the behaviour was irresponsible and people put at risk not only their own lives, but police officers who were out trying to protect the community.

"I think it's brazen behaviour with everything that's going on ... it's affecting not just Australia, but the rest of the world," he said.

"They're putting themselves at unnecessary risk and they're putting us at unnecessary risk.

"Where we come in contact with people, we don't know what they've got, then we could potentially catch it from them, and we don't know who we pass it on to.

"So, in the a grand scheme, they're being quite selfish."

After recently coming off night shifts, Constable Weeks said it was evident how many people were abiding by the measures.

"On a normal Saturday night we would easily pull over five cars per hour in between other jobs.

"Now you'd be lucky to see five cars an hour.

"When we stop them we ask their reasons for being out. Some have a legitimate excuse like coming home from work, but there are some just going out for a drive.

"We explain to them it's not OK, we understand isolation is tough, but they need to head home. And they usually pretty good about it all."

Constable Weeks said since the COVID measures were introduced, he had gone to the homes of residents who had never before come to the attention of police.

"I have attended at least two jobs where there's been no family violence reports done at the address before but had escalating behaviours due to isolation," he said.

"Families are saying they're struggling having everyone in the house all the time because they're no longer working ... they're just on top of each other and it's causing further arguments that we then get called to ... they would be considered low-level incidents."

He said police were also doing everything in their power to practise social distancing where possible.

"I tend not to enter houses unless I need to.

"I no longer shake hands with people that I normally would, I wear a face mask where I think it's necessary.

"I've been to the hospital several times and I follow what they advise as far as putting a face mask on while there.

"I follow directions of senior management who are making good decisions, and if we follow them, we'll be OK."

Mildura police also thanked all emergency service personnel, health workers and other citizens who were providing an essential service that can't be carried out at home.

"A very obvious area is our supermarkets, where we see young and old working in roles that require them to engage with a constant stream of strangers during their working day," local area commander Inspector John Nolan said.

"From a police perspective, COVID-19 has created a degree of anxiety due to the potential for exposure -- particularly when dealing with violent individuals.

"This concern is often exacerbated when offenders, who have been engaged at close quarters, claim to be COVID-19 positive.

"Despite these concerns, our members continue to provide strong and committed service to the community."

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