Czech-Slovak border checks to become more relaxed

Border checks at the Czech-Slovak crossings are to become more relaxed, with the Czech police no longer set to stop every car as before but resort only to random checks instead. This measure will apply until January 25, according to Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan. The Czech Government plans to reduce the number of police officers, soldiers and customs officials deployed at the border crossings. The Czech Interior Minister also thanked Slovakia. "Following the talks between ministers and the police chiefs, the cooperation between the Slovak and Czech police has improved significantly. Joint checks carried out by both the Slovak and Czech police have taken place on Slovak soil and that turned out to be quite an efficient method," he said, adding that the checks alleviate the burden at the state border. The border checks at the crossings with Slovakia were introduced by the Czech Government because of the growing number of illegal migrants on September 29. The Czech Republic has checked almost 2.5 million people thus far and apprehended 9,300 illegal immigrants and 134 human traffickers. Migrants originate mostly from Syria and are fleeing to Germany and Austria. (TASR)