Tackling quarantine challenges with Tidewatch

Editorial: Danielle Ford

When Victoria’s revamped hotel quarantine program for returned international travellers kicked off on 7 December 2020, more than 450 police and Protective Services Officers (PSOs) were deployed across the quarantine and health hotels.

To oversee this program, the Victorian Government established a dedicated agency, COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria (CQV), with Victoria Police called upon to carry out supervision, enforcement and compliance duties at all quarantine and health hotels.

To manage and coordinate these duties, Victoria Police established Operation Tidewatch in November 2020 to oversee police resourcing, training and compliance of officers deployed to the operation.

Operation Tidewatch Police Coordinator Acting Superintendent Jamie Templeton said with more than 450 police required to provide security at the 12 hotels each day, a key role of the operation is to manage the resourcing of police and PSOs from across the state.

“Operation Tidewatch management liaises with Victoria Police’s regions, departments and commands to deploy staff from across the state to the operation,” A/Supt Templeton said.

“We ensure that any policing resources pulled from our stations and specialist units are effectively covered to staff Operation Tidewatch while providing the same level of service to our communities across the state.”

Operation Tidewatch Operations Commander Deputy Commissioner Ross Guenther said the operation had been established with the safety of the community and Victoria Police employees front of mind.

“Safety is at the core of policing and ensuring community and officer safety through effective infection prevention and control is the primary objective of both Operation Tidewatch and the overarching hotel quarantine program,” DC Guenther said.

“In supporting CQV, as the lead agency, and other key stakeholders by providing an enhanced security capability, Victoria Police is committed to maintaining community confidence in assisting our stakeholders in maintaining infection prevention and control within Victoria.”

DC Guenther also noted the support of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel who are working alongside Victoria Police to provide added resources to the operation.

“The support from the ADF is invaluable in our mission to ensure community safety,” he said.