Revealed: Worst NZ region for breaking lockdown rules

Counties Manukau is the worst region in the country for breaching alert level 3 restrictions which resulted in 88 warnings, 24 prosecutions and 10 youth referrals.

Police have so far received 1200 public reports of people breaching restrictions, of which 685 were received in the 24 hours between 6pm May 1 and 6pm May 2, police said yesterday.

Warnings and prosecutions were made for breaches of either the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act or the Health Act.

Waitemata had the least number of prosecutions with just one, but police issued 20 warnings and also made a youth referral in the region.

Police have taken enforcement action against 514 people since alert level 3 came into force which has resulted in 135 prosecutions and 342 warnings.

In the 24 hours between 6pm May 1 and 6pm May 2 police took enforcement action against 112 people.

Police urged people to resist the temptation to socialise in gatherings that would breach the restrictions.

“Under no circumstances should anyone be having a party under the alert level 3 restrictions,” acting Assistant Commissioner Scott Fraser said. “We know from the volume of people reporting these parties and gatherings, that they don’t want to lose all the gains made in the collective effort to beat Covid-19,” he said. “No parties, no excuses.”

Reports of mass gatherings of 10 or more people were being prioritised.

Suspected breaches can be reported by phoning 105, contacting police online via the 105 form, calling Crimestoppers anonymously, or in emergencies calling 111.