Superintendent Peter Stevenson, who led the operation for the Police Service, explains the purpose and importance of such joint law enforcement activity: “Synchronised policing operations such as this aim to disrupt and frustrate the activities of criminals operating in border areas and prevent offender movement between jurisdictions.
We want to deny criminals, and in particular Mobile Organised Crime Gangs, the opportunity to target our border communities, and to prevent them exploiting the border road network as a means to try to escape justice.”
During today’s operation, multiple vehicle checkpoints were implemented by PSNI officers at varying times across a number of border locations. A number of motorists were breathalysed at the roadside and found to be driving with excess alcohol, with one man found to be more than twice the legal limit.
Another driver was arrested for driving without a licence or insurance, and possession of criminal property. Elsewhere officers stopped another vehicle being driven by a disqualified driver who also had no insurance.
A number of detections for possession of class B drugs were also made during the operation.
An Garda Síochána Detective Superintendent John O’Flaherty said: “Working together we can deny criminals the use of our roads. The border between our jurisdictions is not a barrier to effective police or a barrier to keeping people safe. It is certainly not a barrier to prosecuting offenders.”
Superintendent Stevenson concluded: “Today’s Day of Action highlights once again how important and necessary our close working partnership with An Garda Síochána is and we will continue to build on this coordinated approach.
By working side by side we can do more to tackle criminal networks who seek to exploit the border region.
It is important that criminals know that law enforcement in both jurisdictions will continue to work together to relentlessly pursue and apprehend them, and ultimately put them behind bars.”
