Checkpoints detect ‘significant’ activity
MULTI-AGENCY CHECKPOINTS arose during the recession as a way to pool resources and, according to gardaí, cooperation between a variety of agencies has never been better.
At a meeting of Wicklow Joint Policing Committee in Arklow last Wednesday, Cllr Tommy Annesley raised a concern about such checkpoints being set up northbound on the M11. He said that there doesn’t appear to be enough room for them and that they could cause accidents.
Superintendent Paul Hogan said that these checkpoints, which check for motoring of- fences as well as immigration issues and customs and excise offences, have detected a significant amount of illegal activity – not least a driver who was drunk while driving an articulated lorry with trailer.
‘Could you imagine the carnage that could have caused if it had gone undetected?’ he said.
Supt Hogan said that these checkpoints came about in recent years, as the gardaí and other agencies were working in the face of cutbacks and, by pooling resources and information, better results were achieved.