A Garda operation codenamed ‘Storm’ led to a total of 31 arrests in the Waterford Division on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week.
According to a Garda spokesperson: “This operation constituted a high visibility targeted tactical deployment of resources in the Waterford District designed to prevent crime, disrupt criminal activity, arrest criminals wanted for crime, warrants and enhance public relations. Searches, arrests and warrant executions were carried out throughout the city.”
Checkpoints were also conducted on all the approach roads to Waterford city and within the city itself.
These checkpoints and patrols were deployed to prevent further crime through high visibility targeted policing of key locations with the clear object of intercepting criminals as the move about the Waterford District. Crime Prevention leaflets were also handed out to members of the public to increase the awareness of protection of personal property and possessions.
A total of 24 checkpoints were conducted last week and three vehicles was seized under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act (RTA). A total of 18 persons were arrested for crime while 13 persons were arrested on warrant. Eight of these persons were detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, at Waterford Garda Station. The offences for which persons have been arrested include thefts, assaults, criminal damage, robbery, burglaries and Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA).
Sixteen (16) of these have been charged and will appear at local sittings of Waterford District Court in the coming weeks. A total of seven searches were conducted on premises while 14 warrants were executed, leading to 13 arrests. As well as conducting school visits, Gardaí set up crime prevention advice stands at University Hospital Waterford, Tesco Poleberry, Lisduggan Shopping Centre, WIT and City Square Shopping Centre. Meanwhile several Crime Prevention Beats Patrols were detailed within the city.