I have been told by ordinary criminals and terrorists that their greatest concern when engaged in crime is running into a road check whilst in transit ,as a result the measures they take to try and avoid these checks and detection are quite fantasic at times. You are always aware of public sensibilities whilst conducting interference with the public highways but after 30 years of practice the RUC is pretty good at minimising disruption and the checks are always carried out with efficiency and courtisy. Admittedly the military are sometimes lacking in this department but that is simply the result of using soldiers to do a policemans job,military training tends not to emphasis public relations or historical sensibilities. It can be common in certain areas of the country to be called to military road checks at the request of either them or the public due to disputes ,accidents or detection of criminals,it seems to be a recognised fact even by terrorists that the police are preferrable and ultimately professional and accountable compared to the army. In recent years, manpower permitting ,it has been standard practice for police to accompany military patrols.
Public support is essential and is practically guaranteed.
Whoever you are dealing with it always has to be remembered that your 2 minutes with a member of the public can undo years of someone elses community work or win some respect and understanding that previously did not exist. The game is to be efficient and do the job whilst not destroying the confidence of those who support you, trying to minimise the contempt of those who hate you and trying to only influence positively those who are indifferent. The vast majority of the people support the police in the use of stop and search as they realize it is for public protection but that should never be taken as licence to let the standards attached the system slip. Policing by consent.