Checkpoints set to continue
The majority of people have been complying with public health guidelines, An Garda Síochána has said, as major operations and patrols continue around Cork in the run up to the bank holiday weekend.
Operation Fanacht will run until 4 May having begun this Tuesday and will see large-scale checkpoints on many main routes and thousands of mobile checkpoints on secondary routes and in towns and villages.
The operation will also see gardaí conduct high visibility patrols at major tourist locations, parks and natural beauty spots to ensure compliance with restrictions.
At any one time, there will be over 2,500 gardaí involved in checkpoints or high visibility patrolling across the country.
Operation Fanacht previously ran from 8-13 April in the run-up to, and during, the Easter weekend.
Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, John Twomey said: “When we last ran Operation Fanacht there was a high level of compliance from the public. It is vital that we see that again. I want to thank the public for their co-operation so far. We know it has not been easy and has required significant sacrifices.
“We need this compliance to continue. This is a critical week for the country. If we all work together, we can help save the lives of our family, friends, neighbours and colleagues.”
Deputy Commissioner Twomey added that it had been long planned to run Operation Fanacht again during this week in the run up to and over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
76 arrests
An Garda Síochána also revealed some national figures on people who did not adhere to the new regulations and guidelines relating to the lockdown.
From 8 April, which was when the regulations came into effect, until 25 April inclusive, gardaí have invoked the regulations 76 times.
In addition, pre-existing enforcement powers were used in 760 incidents where other offences were highlighted in the course of Covid-19 operations. These range from incidents such as from drink driving detected at checkpoints, to drugs seizures to public order offences.
Commissioner Drew Harris said: “There remains a high level of compliance with the public health guidelines. I know this has been difficult for people, but it is critical this high level of compliance continues. This is an important week for the country in challenging Covid-19.
“Unfortunately, there are people who did not adhere to the guidelines and members of An Garda Síochána had no option but to use the regulations or other legislation. It should be stressed though that this is a tiny proportion of the people we have engaged with over this time.”
From 8-25 April, there were 31 incidents of spitting or coughing against members of An Garda Síochána while members of An Garda Síochána had to use anti-spit guards 15 times during the same time period.
Commissioner Harris said: “These spitting and coughing attacks on our personnel are reprehensible, and show the challenges members of An Garda Síochána are facing in keeping people safe in unique circumstances. It is vital that we protect their health and safety. This includes having the option of using anti-spit guards in very limited circumstances. We have made it clear these anti-spit guards are only to be used as last resort and in line with the Garda Decision Making Model, which includes at its centre our code of ethics and human rights.”