CLARENDON, Jamaica— Acting Senior Superintendent of Police, Shane McCalla, is appealing to citizens of Clarendon to exercise patience and understanding following the declaration of a State of Public Emergency (SOE) for the entire parish Friday morning.

McCalla acknowledged that people may be apprehensive and sought to assure them that the measure is being used to curtail violent flare-ups in sections of the parish.

“What we want persons to understand is that the SOE is geared towards allowing the security forces to have enhanced powers and the ability to carry out surgical operations. It is not geared towards impeding or causing any undue restrictions for law-abiding citizens. However, persons will have to appreciate that there is a certain level of regulation that is going to be enforced,” the acting SSP said following a meeting with business owners in the parish late Friday evening.

McCalla further explained that some communities will be under a strict 6pm to 6am curfew which will be in place for the duration of the emergency measure.

“These communities are the areas that are currently having a series of what we consider an upsurge in certain types of violence and criminal activities. The Cherry Tree Lane and its environs, Palmers Cross where there has been recent incidents, York Town, Treadlight, Havannah Heights, Western Park, those areas are under strict 6pm to 6 am restrictions,” he said.

He added that investigations into the flare-up in Palmers Cross are far advanced and a number of people have been taken into custody even as the police continue their  operations within the space.

SSP McCalla said the meeting with the business community was to see how best their operations could continue – albeit curtailed- by the crimefighting measure.

“We are not about impeding persons or their economic activities and we have considered all the factors and will deal with each of those cases on a needs basis,” McCalla explained.

“We are appealing to persons to comply with the police. I am asking persons not in keeping with the law to cooperate when the police come because if they choose to do otherwise our superior training will come into play,” the top cop warned.