Increased patrols this weekend

Police across the border counties are working alongside An Garda Síochána colleagues today as part of Operation Season’s Greetings, which is a safety and crime prevention operation stretching into early January.

South Area Commander Chief Superintendent Andy Freeburn explained: “Today’s operation is the first in a series planned across day and night over the coming weeks to prevent crime and promote our road safety and anti-drink and drug drive operation.

“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.

“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 Síochána, 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.

“There will be an increased police presence, with authorised checkpoints as part of our anti-drink and drug drive part of the operation, but we will aim to keep any disruption to a minimum by regularly moving and across the area. We will also be conducting preventative and beat patrols, liaising with local businesses to provide crime prevention advice and conducting our daily business of tackling crime. Our ultimate aims is to keep everyone safe, but also deny criminals the use of our road network.

“We will also continue our four Es approach to the Health Protection Regulations of Engage, Explain, Encourage and as a last resort Enforce, to those who recklessly ignore the rules.

“You can help us during Op Seasons Greetings by adhering to the Health Protection Regulations, following the crime prevention and safety advice we will share on our social media channels, by being safe and careful on our roads and by reporting any suspicious activity to us on 101 or 999 in an emergency.”