OPERATION LOCKDOWN

Gardaí conf ident of compliance, but measures to be enforced with f ine or jail

AS the country entered lockdown on Saturday, gardaí said they believe the vast majority of people will play by the rules over the coming weeks, and this week they will have the enforcement powers to deal with the few who do not.

The Irish Mail on Sunday understands the new emergency regulations will be signed off by Health Minister Simon Harris tomorrow and people found to be in breach of the new laws could face a fine or prison.

The gardaí will be able to stop, search, obtain name and address, arrest and isolate those in breach of the lockdown measures.

The penalty could include a fine or three months’ imprisonment.

A source said: ‘It’s as people get cabin fever and might be tempted to venture out to have the power to stop that. We got the laws up to Justice on Friday [March 27] and Simon Harris has to sign them now and that will be done by Tuesday.

‘But there is no harm in using diplomacy. Gardaí on the ground are told “easy does it”, it’s the best option. If we start going out there shutting down roads, people need time to get back from the country or whatever so give people a little bit of breathing space. There is a bit of thinking around it.’

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan told the MoS last night that the country is fully supportive of the draconian new lockdown laws and warned that gardaí will ‘absolutely’ implement ‘legal powers to send people home, to move people on and to disrupt groups’.

Mr Flanagan stressed that ‘the primary focus of Garda presence is to help assist and support communities.’ He conceded that ‘the new laws may seem draconian to some,’ but added that, ‘they are designed to protect communities and save lives’.

Gardaí yesterday began a major policing operation to support the new emergency restrictions that began at midnight on Friday.

More than 2,500 officers were on duty across the country to ensure that people observed the restrictions, as well as to reassure them and to make sure people are travelling safely on the roads. Gardaí were stopping people to check that their journeys were essential.

A Garda source said there will be a big Garda crackdown on people who are coughing and spitting at people in the coming days, with around half a dozen cases reported around the country.

Government and Garda management are anxious that they will be dealt with in a ‘severe measure’.

‘They are looking at that as an action that could potentially jeopardise public health and also create fear. Gardaí will be going after these people and prosecuting.’

As part of their own protection measures, Gardaí are hoping sameday testing for Covid-19, with results back in 12 hours, will be in place this week in a bid to maintain frontline strength, the MoS has learned. This will help get officers who are self-isolating due to virus concerns back to work as quickly as is possible.

Designated testing sites have been identified and it is hoped the same day turnaround will be up and running this week.

An informed source told the MoS: ‘That will be very significant. The problem is if we isolate a few hundred guards we can’t have them waiting 14 days.

Units are trying to create “islands”, to keep the separated and isolated from other groupings. If one goes down, we only have to isolate the people around and cut it off.

‘But it is very important that we would have that testing capacity.’

Another source said: ‘This is significant in keeping up our numbers. Inevitably gardaí are going to get sick or have to isolate and what is key is getting them back to work as quickly as is possible.’

The number of gardaí who have tested positive for Covid-19 is relatively low to date, but many more have had to isolate and a same-day test would get them back to work.

Meanwhile, the less than 400 Garda Reserve members will be rolled out as needed in the coming week. A directive has been sent to chief superintendents and superintendents to use them as needed.

‘The reserve members are effectively being kept in reserve for now and will be rolled out as needed in the coming weeks.’

The countrywide lockdown was announced by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Friday after it was ‘brought forward a little’ as a result of capacity concerns in intensive care units.

A source said: ‘It’s not because the numbers are alarmist, but to protect the system. It was brought forward a little and we knew something was coming because the Government had requested radio silence.’

Essential workers will be required to show identification and with a work description when stopped by gardaí while the country is in lockdown.

Crackdown on those who spit and cough at people

‘Lockdown was brought forward a little’