169 COVID penalty notices issued in Derry and Strabane as PSNI promises border patrols in support of An Garda Síochána

The force released details of the enforcement action on Friday while promising to establish checkpoints and conduct patrols in border areas ahead of the Bank Holiday in the 26 counties.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said the PSNI is working hand-in-glove with An Garda Síochána which is mounting a major stay-at-home enforcement campaign of its own, Operation Fanacht, this weekend.

"We have been working closely with An Garda Síochána throughout the period of the restrictions and we will continue to do so in relation to an appropriate policing response and to coordinate our operational activity over both bank holiday weekends.

“We have a joint interest for people to stay at home and protect both our health services and save lives both sides of the border," he said.

ACC Todd revealed that 11 people in Derry and Strabane were handed Community Resolution Notices this week while a further 2 people were given Penalty Notices for Disorder.

That brings to 169 the number of enforcement notices served on people in the district since March 30.

And more enforcement activity will continue this weekend.

"We will continue to conduct patrols and vehicle checkpoints and you will continue to see police patrols and checkpoints across Northern Ireland for example at beauty spots, on roads going to key resorts and in border areas to engage with the public to ensure that everyone understands and is adhering to the direction from our government.

"If you don’t have a reasonable explanation for your travel, we will turn you back. We will continue to engage with people and explain what we need them to do and encourage them to follow the restrictions that are in place but for the small numbers of people who are continuing to ignore the restrictions, it is inevitable that we will have to move to enforcement through the issue of penalty notices but I would stress this is always a last resort," said ACC Todd.