Mercury (Hobart)

Lockdowns the last resort

POLICE OPERATIONS

- Stewart Edwards Mount Stuart Carlo Di Falco Forcett Ron Anstis Carlisle River, Victoria Steve Bailey Glenorchy Rod Force Sandy Bay

I CAN understand Tasmania Police has to be ever-vigilant and up-front in its activities and make this a safe place to live for all Tasmanians. I agree that in certain circumstan­ces necessity may dictate police locking down entire towns in the event of criminal and terrorist activity that poses a serious threat to the wellbeing and safety of its citizens. Also I understand and support Tasmania Police implementi­ng lockdowns when required, in exceptiona­l circumstan­ces.

However I am concerned it is sending the wrong message to Tasmanian seniors and law-abiding citizens sensing their everyday routine chores may be associated either directly or indirectly with activities of the criminal element operating specifical­ly out of towns and in villages away from the city centres. Perhaps Tasmania Police could initiate a public relations exercise spelling out the merits of lockdowns and only imposing them in exceptiona­l circumstan­ces. major centres, and all avenues to and from the town were controlled to ensure those committing offences could not avoid police. These types of operations are legal under section 7B of the Road Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Act.

During these operations we stop people for a random breath test, licence and registrati­on check like we have always done. If the results give cause for concern, we question them further and may take further action. If we have cause to believe they may be carrying drugs or stolen goods we have the power to search the vehicle under appropriat­e legislatio­n. If the checks give no cause for concern then drivers simply carry on. More than 99 per cent of the interactio­ns with police are overwhelmi­ngly positive — brief, polite and no issues. We will continue to work to detect offences and ensure our roads and communitie­s are safe. the risk of putting law-abiding citizens at risk on our roads. Go get them Brett Smith and I trust Police Commission­er Darren Hine commences similar practices in the South of Tasmania.

Overreach in Cressy

BENJAMIN Franklin stated that: “They who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety”. The Cressy lockdown by Tasmania Police is a worrying example of overreach. We already have warrant-less police searches of firearm owners’ storage facilities. Perhaps they would have more success if they checked that crims on probation are complying with curfews rather than wasting police man-hours on lawabiding citizens.

Barbaric

THE annual massacre of wallabies and kangaroos on Maria Island is to continue unchecked. How barbaric. An alternativ­e solution has been offered free of charge yet they still choose the nasty cruel killing practices of the past which will lead to extinction in the near future.

The siren’s gone

DON’T these sore losing Labor whingers know the siren’s gone? There’s no fifth quarter. What good does it do to cry over spilt milk? Try to build a better team for your next match in 2022!

Unbelievab­le

IMAGINE getting upset at someone for claiming that the God you don’t believe in, said in a book you don’t read, that unless you repent of the sin you don’t care about, you will go to a place you don’t think exists.

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