POLICE from throughout the South Coast Police District have been manning checkpoints with the closure of the Victorian border.
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A number of officers from throughout the district have been working around the clock manning a checkpoint at Timbillica, south of Eden and about 2.5km from the actual border.
Commanding Officer of the Nowra Police Station, Inspector Ray Stynes said officers have been undertaking a seven-day rotation at the checkpoint, working closely with navy and army personnel from the Australian Defence Force and Transport NSW staff.
"We have had personnel from Berry to the north and Eden to the south manning the checkpoint," he said.
"We have done so since the NSW/Victorian border was closed and will continue for however long we are required.
"This operation will continue for the foreseeable future."
So far more than 60 officers have been used in the operation, with Insp Stynes saying a number have indicated they were keen to undertake further deployments.
"The checkpoint operates 24/7," Insp Stynes said "our people are rostered on to complete morning, afternoon and night shifts, sharing the load with the ADF."
Ten officers are deployed at a time and while he admitted that was challenge, it was a "challenge the region was meeting".
"Sure to have 10 officers permanently off the rosters is a big ask, it's many, many shifts we need to cover each week, but we plan for these such instances," he said.
"The officers are coming from various sectors across the region, we aren't just taking them from one area.
"The deployments come within our capacity and we continue our day to day operational policing.
"This is just something else we do on top of our normal day to day activities and other operations we have ongoing across the region.
"It is all just factored into our rostering and will be ongoing."
The deployment is for seven days at a time, with two days for travelling and five on-site.
"Initially we also supplied personnel to the Monaro area, however now we are concentrating on our own border crossing for the coastal region and that is the one at Timbillica," Insp Stynes said.
"Timbillica was chosen because of its location, and the fact it wasn't a border town.
"We don't have the problem or issues like at Albury and Wodonga.
"Timbillica is relatively remote and so far hasn't had any issues like some of the other crossing locations.
"We are only stopping people from Victoria coming into NSW, unless they have a permit issued by NSW Services."
He said a number of people had been turned away and directed back to Victoria.
"Thankfully, so far we have not has any major issues and have not had to make any arrests," he said.
"The feedback has been good and the motorists we have dealt with have been compliant."
He said officers he has spoken too have also enjoyed the experience.
"Personnel I've spoken to who have undertaken the deployment the feedback has been positive," he said.
"They have enjoyed it, saying it was something different.
"A number of officers have already indicated they are willing to undertake another deployment."
He said once deployments were completed officers undertook a short period off before returning to their normal rostered duties.