Police out to catch Melburnians fleeing lockdown

With no “ring of steel” surrounding Melbourne this week and the long weekend, Victorian police be will out and about to catch out Melburnians who try to flee lockdown.

Operation Sentinel will be enforced to ramp up patrols and conduct random spot checks at businesses and public spaces in regional Victoria.

Unlike the state’s second lockdown, there will be no “ring of steel” around the metropolitan boundary.

Instead, police will be conducting highly visible road and foot patrols to prevent a mass exodus from Melbourne, as it endures another week in lockdown.

“Victoria Police will be conducting mobile patrols, both in vehicles and on foot across the state. The mobile vehicle patrols will utilise Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to scan car registration details and identify the residential addresses of those licence holders,” a police spokeswoman said.

Regional businesses have also been ordered to take on an enforcement role last Friday.

Acting Premier James Merlino said businesses must check customers’ IDs and refuse service to anyone who is not legally allowed to be in regional Victoria.

“We know it is an extra ask of staff and on customers, but ultimately this is about keeping your community safe.

“We will also expand our service Victoria QR requirements to make it mandatory to check into retail settings, such as supermarkets and shops and that will apply across the whole of our state,” he said.

Those caught breaking the rules will be hit with the full force of law, with individuals and businesses risking $1,652 and $9,913 fines, respectively.