CHIFLEY police are among a 650 strong contingent of officers seconded to assist along the Victorian border, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a hold on the troubled state.
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Duty Officer with Chifley Police District, David Abercrombie said the officers were part of a larger operation, which has police deployed across 55 border crossings along the Victorian border.
The operation is being overseen by the NSW Police's State Planning Unit, the police department responsible for large-scale events like Australia Day and New Year's Eve.
The intensive policing operation includes patrolling highways, road, waterways and bridges across 11 local government areas will prevent people from leaving Victoria and coming to NSW.
While Inspector Abercrombie was unable to say how many officers from Chifley had been sent to assist, he said it was expected the officers would be deployed to the area for at least six weeks, potentially longer, depending on the operation.
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The border was shut earlier this month, and while Premier of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian said she hoped the closure would be temporary, she could not give a timeframe.
"It will be based on health advice," she said.
NSW Police Commissioner, Mick Fuller said earlier this month police would use drones, check points and officers to ensure there were no illegal border crossings. Victorians who try to enter NSW will face jail time and an $11,000 fine. Essential workers and those requiring exemptions on compassionate or other grounds can apply to cross the border through Service NSW.
Around 650 members of NSW Police, who are working alongside 350 members of the Australian Boarder Force have been stationed along the borders as part of the operation.
Overnight Friday, there were 428 new cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, the state's single highest day total. In NSW there were 13 new coronavirus cases confirmed in the same time frame.
