First, it was the beaches, now it’s the parks.

Police have begun patrolling public parks in popular Sydney suburbs, putting anyone without a valid reason for being out of the house on notice.

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Footage taken from Rushcutters Bay Park in Sydney on Tuesday showed a police car driving through the grass where people were lying in the sun.

On several occasions, it pulled up next to sunbathers and told them to move on.

In Sydney’s east, police were patrolling the grass near beaches and telling people who had stopped for lunch to go home.

The Sydney business district seen behind a playground taped off at a park in Sydney. Credit: JOEL CARRETT / AAPIMAGE

Though police have the power to issue fines, they have been told to show a “high level of discretion”.

People sunbathe in front of a ‘no gathering’ sign in St Kilda. File image. Credit: SCOTT BARBOUR / AAPIMAGE

“Our power of discretion is one of the most powerful powers and we will continue to use that,” NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said.

“I’m not suggesting we don’t issue a ticket to someone or a business owner, self-isolation is important.”

Mick Fuller says officers will be doing everything in their power to ensure compliance. Credit: AAP

Ministerial powers handed to police through the Public Health Act have given officers the ability to hand out Penalty Infringement Notices of $1,000 for individuals and $5,000 for businesses across New South Wales.

Clusters of infection among backpackers at Bondi has led to a pop-up clinic to test the community. Credit: AAP

Explanatory notes under the infringement notice dictate there are few valid reasons for people to be outside their homes.

Listed are the four reiterated by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian - seeking medical care, shopping for essentials, travelling for work or exercising.

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Police also have the ability to enforce restrictions on the number of people who can gather in a public place.

There should be no more than two people gathering either indoors or outdoors at any given time, according to health experts.

The only exception is households and families.