Police helicopter yells at sunbathers to clear off a beach in Sydney's eastern ...

Beachgoers sneaking out during Sydney's Covid lockdown to soak up some winter sun have been sensationally lambasted by a hovering police helicopter.

Footage uploaded to TikTok shows officers in a chopper demanding sunbathers pack up and leave Gordon's Bay at Clovelly in Sydney's east, or be hit with fines for breaking stay-at-home orders.

Some commenters on the social media platform called the bizarre police measures 'over the top' and compared it to something that might be seen in North Korea.

Others said it shows that those living in Sydney's glamorous eastern suburbs are not taking lockdown seriously. 

It comes the New South Wales recorded 239 new cases on Sunday, as police across the Harbour City ramp up Covid compliance measures, stamping out a massive anti-lockdown protest on Saturday by flooding the CBD with officers before the event even began.

The video shows startled beachgoers, now heading into their sixth week of lockdown, being warned that police are on their way to the idyllic spot. 

'Will everyone congregating in Gordon's Bay please move on,' the police helicopter broadcasts.

'The local police have been notified and will be attending shortly. Anyone breaching the public health order will be issued a fine.'

While essential exercise is permitted under Greater Sydney's strict lockdown, eastern suburbs residents have been heavily criticised in recent weeks for seemingly ignoring stay-at-home orders with large crowds photographed at popular beachside areas. 

Commenters complained those living in western suburbs are often not offered the same waring by police. 

'This is in the eastern suburbs. The affluent suburbs. People in the west are getting on the spot fines,' one person wrote.

'I could never work out why there's so many infectious people in the community after five weeks in lockdown… I get it now,' another said.

One person even joked: 'Sydney will be in lockdown until the Brisbane Olympics at this rate!'   

But there were some others who found the police tactic somewhat Orwellian and heavy-handed. 

'I thought a shark had a bomb or something. That's a lot of effort to tell someone they could get fined,' one person said.

Another wrote: Is this Sydney or North Korea? 

Police have significantly ramped up Covid compliance efforts after a mass anti-lockdown protest in Sydney's last weekend where about 3,500 demonstrators marched through the CBD with violent clashes with law enforcement breaking out.

To make sure the ugly incident was not repeated this weekend, up to 1,300 police swarmed Sydney on Saturday and setup a network of roadblocks around the city in a massive show of force to avoid a repeat of last week's violent anti-lockdown protest. 

With officers scattered in seemingly every direction across the city, only eight arrests were made - a far cry from the chaotic scenes in the CBD seven days ago. 

Police did issue more than 250 Penalty Infringement Notices (PIN) across Sydney, with one man, 45, arrested at a home at Oatley after travelling on trains outside his local government area without a reasonable excuse. 

He was taken to Kogarah Police Station and charged after breaching an imposed Public Safety Order (PSO).

In the western suburbs, angry residents also saw police helicopters hovering overhead while blaring sirens and broadcasting: 'This is public health order —do not break rules —you will be found and fines issued.' 

'This is not the Australia I emigrated to,' a woman from North Parramatta told Daily Mail Australia. 

'Cannot believe it. Are they checking we are wearing masks in our gardens? Talk about being treated as suspected criminals.' 

The reaction to the heavy police presence provoked a number of fired up comments on Twitter.

One labelled today's events in Sydney an example of 'propaganda', and that police were out in force purely to intimidate residents.

'I'm pro-vaccine and anti-superspreader events but Sydney today was disconcerting,' another wrote.

'Police blocking roads to check ID and ask where I'm going, I just hope we don't get used to these government controls post-Covid.'

Another suggested it was a 'sham job' by the NSW Government and a waste of taxpayers money. A third expressed her concern about ongoing government controls once lockdown finally ends in NSW. 

Lines of patrol cars stretching hundreds of metres were pictured parked on Moore Park Road near the Sydney Cricket Ground as early as 7am on Saturday as police prepared for the operation. 

A wide exclusion zone was established stretching from Lilyfield in the inner-west, to Milsons Point on the north shore, Edgecliff in the east and Zetland in the south as police stopped anyone entering the city to ask them their reason for travel. 

The police operation follows an announcement police would be cracking down on lockdown rule-breakers from Friday with fines lifted to $500 for not wearing a mask and restriction tightened further for eight LGAs in south-west and Western Sydney. 

The huge police presence sparked a mixed reactions among the public, with most commending the police effort but some saying it was an over-the-top reaction. 

'There's no protest I don't know what they think they are ready for,' one person said. 

'Wow! I agree with the lockdown and agree with using extra measures, but this seems a bit extreme,' another said.  

'Good on them, backing the police all the way! All the troublemakers from last weekend are back in hiding,' argued a third. 

More than 3,500 people attended the demonstration last week, with officials warning Sydneysiders not to turn up again in the lead up to this weekend. 

Police established a command centre at Hyde Park in the centre of the city to direct operations - with foot patrols, mounted police officers and patrol cars flooding the CBD. 

Authorities had expected a protest after monitoring online activity, but knew the numbers would not be anywhere near as big as the one that shook Sydney on Saturday seven days ago.

Some 60 protesters have been charged and 200 people fined over last Saturday's demonstration.