South-west police to target travellers, dangerous road users in five-day operation

Operation Nexus will run from Thursday through to 11.59pm on Monday.

The five-day operation will utilise all available personnel from local road policing units, general duties and other regional resources.

During the operation, centralised resources from the State Highway Patrol, Solo Unit, Heavy Vehicle Unit, where possible, will support the identified high risk areas.

The major focus of the operation will be on speed, fatigue, impaired driving, distraction offences and seatbelt compliance.

Police will also be targeting people flouting coronavirus lockdown rules.

The government has repeatedly urged Easter holiday-makers to cancel their non-essential travel as part of efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Under social distancing rules, people are allowed to travel to work, the supermarket, pharmacy and medical appointments, or for exercise.

South-west healthcare workers, MPs and councillors have also issued pleas to stay at home.

Victoria Police Minister Lisa Neville said the long weekend could see people making "a very significant dent" in coronavirus community transition figures if they don't do the right thing.

"Most Victorians are doing the right thing, you can see that on our street and in our community but we still have some issues," she said in a press conference on Thursday.

Ms Neville said the message was clear: "Stay at home".

"Stay at your primary residence... stay with the people you currently live with," she said.

"Do not go and travel to our regional and coastal communities this weekend. If you are going to visit your holiday home, it's only with the people you currently live with that can go with you."

Ms Neville said people could not rent a holiday house, go camping, boating or fishing, or catch up with friends or family members that don't live in their primary residence.

"If you're thinking abut heading down the coast or to a regional community, and you fit into one of those categories, please do not get on the road," she said.

"Please do not head down to a rental property or AirBnB. Don't think you can take your caravan and your camping equipment and go off somewhere remotely because Victoria Police will be out there making sure people are doing the right thing.

"We want everyone to enjoy this Easter but it will be a very different Easter to what we are used to."

READ more:

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.