AS promised by Premier Daniel Andrews last week, policing of the ‘ring of steel’ between surburban and regional Victoria has been beefed up.

Victoria Police now has the power to fine metropolitan residents $4957 should they be caught trying to sneak into regional areas.

Checkpoints on the outskirts of Melbourne have been toughened with police vowing to pull over every vehicle towing a caravan, camper trailer, jet ski, boat or carrying surf boards and camping gear.