VICTORIA Police has launched an operation to protect regional communities, such as Sunraysia, from those who may try to flout Melbourne’s strict lockdown rules.
Operation Guardian will see about 200 extra police stationed on the state’s major highways leading into the regions as well as back roads.
The boost comes following Wednesday’s announcement that lockdown restrictions will be eased in regional Victoria, with the exception of Shepparton, on Friday.
Deputy Commissioner (Regional Operations) Rick Nugent said further police enforcement was needed to ensure the virus is not spread through regional towns and cities.
“The sentinal resources and local police resources in regional areas will focus on targeting those tourist areas, places metro people may go, to ensure we identify those people and then deal with them appropriately,” Mr Nugent said.
“It’s a $5452 fine so that’s a huge fine for heading into the regional areas for a cafe, restaurant or pub meal, so please don’t do it.”
He said there were no plans to introduce a ring of steel or permanent checkpoints between Melbourne and regional areas with past easing of restrictions proving a high police presence was more effective.
“We know we’re dealing with a different strain of the virus … but at this point we’re not planning on those large infrastructure sites with the checking of every vehicle.
“We’ll certainly have random checkpoints, we’ll be moving booze buses around, and we’ll check vehicles coming through them, but we’ll be using the automatic number plate recognition technology that will alert us to vehicles that have Melbourne-based registrations.”
Mildura Superintendent Rebecca Olsen said from Thursday local police would increase their focus on transport routes out of Melbourne, including public transport hubs and smaller roads.
“Every Mallee member and police unit will be tasked to COVID compliance identifying travellers from Melbourne,” Supt Olsen said.
“The additional resources that are currently in addition to the NSW cross-border work will continue as we identify those travellers across states in breach of Chief Health Officer (CHO) directions.
“These are times of great relief for regional Victoria but also raise the demands and expectations about keeping our communities COVID safe for VicPol.”
She said people found obviously and deliberately breaching the CHO’s directions would be fined without hesitation.
“These circumstances are about choice. Not only a choice to breach the CHO directions, but health and welfare choices for our families and communities,” Supt Olsen said.
“I’d encourage everyone to be patient, observe the health rules and keep themselves, their family and their community safe.
“We have all been apart from our families and loved ones but now is not the time to encourage them to take the risk in travelling out of Melbourne.”
