Victoria Police has given reassurances that officers are checking people's reasons for travel, amid concerns Melbourne residents are coming to central Victoria on non-essential trips.
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Bendigo's Inspector Tim Cron said there were two 24-hour checkpoints for travellers coming into the region from Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, and officers would question these people on why they were leaving the areas subject to stage three restrictions.
In a statement, Victoria Police said officers would stop vehicles at random at these checkpoints.
"Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology will also be used at these sites to detect vehicles that are registered to owners who live in LGAs currently in stage three stay at home restrictions," Victoria Police said.
"There will also be mobile police vehicles across the state enforcing the [chief health officer] restrictions for metro Melbourne and Mitchell Shire."
Victoria Police said officers were also patrolling at transport hubs, including railway stations.
Inspector Cron said protective services officers would check on travellers at the railway stations in the area.
Officers locally also responded to complaints about potential restriction breaches, he said, and daily patrols took place in areas where people tended to gather, including local shopping centres and Hargreaves Mall.
Inspector Cron said people were generally abiding by the rules.
"From time to time we might get a party or people travelling for the wrong reasons, but generally people are pretty good," he said.
However, he acknowledged shopkeepers had raised concerns about people travelling in from the COVID-19 'hotspots'.
"The message from the premier is clear - you shop in your own area," Inspector Cron said.
A number of community members have contacted the Bendigo Advertiser, worried that people from Melbourne are travelling to Bendigo for non-essential reasons, including shopping.
One Bendigo resident, John McMahon, said he feared an outbreak here, and the impact another lockdown would have on small local businesses.
A close friend's small business would not survive another one, he said.
Another resident, Michael Ackschott, voiced concern about how people within Bendigo were being monitored to ensure they did not come from a lockdown area, particularly in shopping centres.
Under the current rules, certain businesses in regional Victoria - including cafes and restaurants - must "use reasonable endeavours" to ensure their customers do not live within metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire.
Personal service providers, such as beauty salons, massage services and tattoo services, must check identification of customers and refuse those who live within the stage three restriction areas.
Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
