CLOSED FOR A REASON: City council have received reports of Margaret Mahy Family Playground and others around the city being used in-spite of them being closed and taped off. Photo: Getty ImagesThe city council is warning police will take enforcement action if playgrounds are continued to be used during the nation-wide shutdown to fight Covid-19. Over the last three days, it has received reports of people using the Margaret Mahy Family Playground and other playgrounds in the city in-spite of them being closed and taped off during lockdown period. Police will work through a four-step process:Step one will be engagement, encouragement and educationStep two a warning will be issuedStep three an arrest and detainment for a short period without prosecutionStep four arrest and prosecute for serious and persistent breaches. "Police has a number of powers available to them under the Health Act 1956, the Summary Offences Act 1981 and under the Civil Defence Emergency Act 2002 to take action where appropriate," the police spokeswoman said.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 27, 2020 23:48 UTC