Today, Monday 9th December 2024, An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland launch the Cross Border Policing Strategy 2025 – 2027. This three-year strategy aims to build on established collaborative relationships and operational successes to date underpinned by previous Cross Border Policing Strategies. The strategic areas of focus of this strategy are • Tackling Crime and Preventing Harm • Roads Policing and Road Safety • Community Policing • Major Emergency Management These strategies will be enabled by a focus on • Joint Investment • Developing our people in both Police Services • Legislative supports The strategy will underpin discussions at ongoing quarterly cross border meetings between the Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable, PSNI and their senior management teams. The strategy will also further support the ongoing work of the Joint Agency Task Force. Speaking about the Cross Border Strategy Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: "I am delighted to be here today, with Chief Constable Boutcher, as we launch our Cross Border Policing Strategy 2025 – 2027. This updated three-year strategy aims to build on the many established collaborative relationships and cross-border operational successes we have achieved to date. "It also represents a strengthened commitment towards enhanced law enforcement provision and intelligence-sharing between both our organisations in the midst of evolving threats and challenges derived from a rapidly changing geo-political and criminal landscape.” Commissioner Drew Harris continued: "With the launch of our updated Cross Border Policing Strategy today - we continue to build on this co-ordinated approach to policing. By working side by side we can do more to tackle criminal networks who seek to exploit the border region, and deliver on our mission of keeping people safe.” Speaking about the launch of the Cross Border Policing Strategy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Jon Boutcher said: "Co-operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Síochána is vital to protect all of our communities. Crime and organised criminals do not respect national boundaries and our policing response must be equally flexible and relentless. "The level of co-operation between our organisations is already impressive; every day of the week officers and staff of PSNI and An Garda Síochána work together to support victims and target criminals in border communities and beyond. "Alongside the Commissioner I am delighted to launch this new Cross Border Strategy which will enhance even further the understanding, information sharing and commitment to cooperation between PSNI and An Garda Síochána.” Background/Examples of Cross Border Co-Operation: • Operation Comby/ Operation Gull/ Operation Sonnet – An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland and UK Authorities have significant ongoing cross border collaboration and support on immigration matters with the aim of protecting the Common Travel Area (CTA) and to interdict irregular migration, people smuggling and human trafficking into Ireland and the UK. • Cross border cyber-attack simulation exercise hosted by Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau with colleagues from the Police Service of Northern Ireland – October 2023 • Cross Border Joint Agency Task Force (JATF) – The 2015 Fresh Start Agreement established the formal mandate for a Cross Border Joint Agency Task Force (JATF) with the aim of bringing a concerted and enhanced effort to tackle cross-jurisdictional organised crime. The JATF is led by senior officers from the PSNI, An Garda Síochána, and other key partner agencies, including Revenue Services on both sides of the border and the UK’s National Crime Agency. The current six strategic priorities identified for the Cross Border Joint Agency Cross Border Task Force are: Tobacco and Fuel smuggling Synthetic Drugs Human Trafficking Rural Crime (with cross-border dimension) Financial Crime Immigration Case Studies: • In July a day of action targeting cross border organised crime groups operating in the border region in Armagh, Monaghan and Louth. This operation led to the arrest of two males by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in connection with numerous fraud incidents in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile in simultaneous searches in County Monaghan An Garda Síochána recovered a forklift truck that had been stolen in a fraud by deception incident in County Kildare, in May 2024. • Also in July An Garda Síochána’s Drug and Organised Crime Bureau together with the ERU and Garda specialist units conducted an operation targeting an OCG involved in the importation and sale and supply of firearms in Ardee, County Louth. The operation led to the recovery of 12 semi-automatic handguns, 6 assault rifles and almost one-thousand rounds of ammunition. Two people were arrested and charged. A further location of interest was identified and led to the Police Service of Northern Ireland seizing component parts of firearms. • October 2024, a Joint Agency Task Force operation was put in place at Rosslare Europort, County Wexford, involving An Garda Síochána, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Revenue Customs Service. This led to the discovery of approximately 30 kilos of cocaine with a market value of almost €2.1 million. The drugs had been concealed in a Mercedes tractor. | 