Wagga coronavirus: The excuses hotspot travellers are trying on Wagga cops

As Sydney continues to grapple with the outbreak of the Delta strain of COVID-19, metropolitan residents are banned from leaving the area to protect the regions.

However, Riverina Police District Superintendent Bob Noble said officers continue to catch out people flouting the rules.

He said that since July 13, they had issued 34 infringement notices adding there are two main reasons people often provide.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"There has been a trend of people claiming they are travelling through the area to get vaccines when they are from Sydney, and they could easily be vaccinated there," Superintendent Noble said.

"We have had instances of people saying they are down here to support a boyfriend or girlfriend, but they can't substantiate why that person needs a particular level of support or why that support couldn't be provided by local services.

"Flimsy excuses will not be accepted ... they better be able to substantiate that they are here for a valid, bona fide reason and not something they have just concocted."

As regional areas such as Tamworth and Byron Bay go into snap lockdowns, Superintendent Noble said Riverina residents would notice a more visible police presence.

As well as using number plate technology to catch out any illegal Sydney visitors, he said officers would be on the beat at shopping centres and eateries to make sure patrons and businesses are following the rules.

"Police and health are working tirelessly to make sure communities are kept as safe as possible," Superintendent Noble said.

"Is this a model of policing that police would rather operate in? Of course not. We are here to serve and protect this community.

"We will do what we need to do to ensure the communities of the Riverina are kept safe."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: