"Expect to be intercepted" - Operation Guardian

Police have delivered on their promise to increase patrols on regional arterial roads and to target tourist areas, in an attempt to stop the virus spreading to regional Victoria.

Police at Newhaven this afternoon were checking cars coming onto the island, while other motorists reported check points on the highway.

There was also a strong police presence in Cowes, with visible patrols in key areas like Thompson Avenue.

One driver at the Newhaven check point said in just a two minute window, they witnessed one driver making a quick U-turn just before the road block.

Last week, Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said police were launching Operation Guardian to protect regional areas and warned anyone caught trying to visit without a valid exemption faced a $5424 fine.

There are 200 police on “permanent and visible patrols on regional arterial roads and back roads” and the operation includes random check points, booze buses, roving patrols and automatic number-plate recognition technology (ANPR) to identify people trying to get from Melbourne to regional areas.

He said anyone thinking of sneaking into the regions should expect to be intercepted and warned going to a regional café, restaurant or pub could be an expensive outing, with fines of $5452 in place for breaking the rules set by the Chief Health Officer.

Anyone with concerns can contact the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398  or call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.