A senior PSNI chief has said his officers will be operating border checkpoints to ensure that travel restrictions are adhered to over the upcoming bank holiday weekends.
It comes as police in Derry say they have already noticed an increase in traffic across the city as they conduct cross border patrols with colleagues in An Garda Siochana ahead of the bank holidays.
They have advised the public to adhere to the directions issued by the Stormont Executive on essential travel in a bid to protect the NHS and save lives.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd says the PSNI has been working with Gardai to “co-ordinate our operational activity over both bank holiday weekends”.
The May Day bank holiday will take place in the Republic this weekend, while the holiday will be marked in the North of Ireland on May 8, to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
The senior PSNI officer says that while he understood the holiday would traditionally mean people visiting family or going to beauty spots, lockdown rules must be continued to be adhered to.
“We have to remember, as has been said time and time again, that this is a health crisis not a holiday,” he stressed.
He urged people to stay at home, and not to travel over the border into Donegal, warning officers will be out across the North of Ireland to stop drivers.
“We will continue to conduct patrols and checkpoints and you will see police patrols and checkpoints across Northern Ireland, for example at beauty spots, on roads going to key resorts and in border areas,” he explained.
“If you don’t have a reasonable explanation for your travel, we will turn you back.”
ACC Todd said officers will take action against those who persist in breaking restrictions.
He revealed that to date, a total of 374 fines and 615 Community Resolution Notices have been issued by officers.
Garda checkpoint on border earlier this month at Bridgend as officers check driver details and reason for travel
“For the small numbers continuing to ignore the restrictions, it is inevitable we will have to move to enforcement through penalty notices.
“But I would stress this is always a last resort.”
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