Joint Police and ADF border patrols on the ACT borders came to an end yesterday.
From September 20, ADF deployed up to 25 members from across Australia to serve alongside ACT Policing during the COVID-19 lockdown at border checkpoints.
The joint operation focused on main arterial roads into Canberra including the Federal Highway, Barton Highway and Monaro Highway.
Over the past four weeks police and ADF processed 16461 vehicles at the borders, turning around 331 vehicles travelling for non-approved reasons.
Along with ACT Road Policing teams, the ADF teams were made up of personnel from Army and Navy, with the majority from the Federation Guard and Royal Military College Band.
ACT Road Policing Detective Inspector Donna Hofmeier said it was great to have two organisations working together with the same goal of serving the community and keeping people safe.
“Canberra has really come together and been so understanding during the lockdown which our Road Policing officers have been able to see every day,” Det Insp Hofmeier said.
“It was great see the enthusiastic Canberran welcome to our Defence personnel and the support for our joint operations at borders around the ACT.
“Defence assistance allowed us to increase our activities at a time when our community needed assistance in navigating COVID-19 health measures.
“We’re extremely thankful to the ADF for personnel tasked to work with us, their professionalism and dedication was extremely valuable to our COVID-19 response and helped keep our community safe.”
Commander of Joint Task Group 629.9 Operation COVID-19, Assist Colonel John Brennen said the border-control points were successful.
“The ACT Government implemented certain restrictions to protect the local community and the border-control points were an important part of ensuring compliance with these restrictions,” Colonel Brennan said.
“We’ve been working with the ACT authorities since the start of Operation COVID-19 Assist in 2020.”
“We’ve worked extremely well and closely with the ACT authorities.”
