Operations Season’s Greetings; Gardaí and PSNI will conduct cross-border operations

Gardai and the Northern Ireland Police are doing cross-border operations in order to find drink drivers and criminals over the festival period.

As a part of the operations Season’s Greetings, the PSNI officers and the gardai will be working hand in hand.

The operation kick started yesterday and will continuously take place day and night over the coming weeks.

Andy Freeburn, PSNI Chief Superintendent said that the major aim of the operation is to prevent drink and driving along with other criminal activities.

Freeburn said that: “We very much appreciate that things are very different for all of us this year with the current pandemic, however our commitment to building safe communities remains.”

He said that police officers from departments across the service will be providing visible and accessible policing to local communities and businesses right across the area.

“We will also be working in partnership with An Garda Siochana, running joint operations to help deliver safer streets for shopping and socialising, as the Health Protection Regulations permit, safer roads and public transport, safer homes for those at risk of domestic abuse and safer businesses.” He added.

He also said that there will be an increased police presence, with authorised checkpoints as part of the anti-drink and drug-drive part of the operation, but they will aim to keep any disruption to a minimum by regularly moving across the area.

“Our ultimate aim is to keep everyone safe but also deny criminals the use of our road network,” he added, and for this the officers will be carrying out beat patrols as well as providing crime prevention advice to local businesses.