The escapee was perhaps unaware the hotel abuts the Victoria Police Centre, which is always teeming with hundreds of officers based at the force's Docklands headquarters.
A man forced into quarantine at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne made an ill-fated bid for freedom on Monday afternoon before he was swiftly collared by police and fined.
The escapee was perhaps unaware the hotel abuts the Victoria Police Centre, which is always teeming with hundreds of officers based at the force's Docklands headquarters. The man was arrested about 5pm on Monday. Victoria Police declined to comment on the arrest, but the escape raises concerns about security arrangements at the Crowne Plaza, which were changed last week by the Department of Health and Human Services.has been told that 39 guards are permanently rostered on at the hotel on Spencer Street to ensure people returning from overseas remain in strict quarantine for 14-days.
Three security guards are based on each of the hotel's ten floors and swipe cards are required to operate the lifts.Other guards are posted at two fire escapes, while another guard patrols the hotel lobby. An authorised DHHS officer is also on site at all times, along with medical staff. It remains unclear how the man fled his room on the ninth-floor, but security industry sources have blamed a decision by the department to reduce costs by changing security firms last Friday.Crowne Plaza has provided accommodation for up to 300 people returning to Melbourne from overseas, who are confined to their hotel rooms other than brief stints for exercise on the basement level.
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