MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A curfew has been imposed in several Manchester communities as police try to stem violence and reprisals for recent murders.

Head of the Manchester police Deputy Superintendent Carey Duncan told journalists that the curfew started earlier this week.

“There are some curfews imposed in sections of Manchester. In the Porus space Clark’s Town, Redberry and Trinity as also in the Mandeville space May Day, New Hall and areas to surround that general local,” he said on Wednesday.

“These curfews are important in order to clampdown on some activities that we have been having. I just want to ask the general public to be understanding where we are concerned. Just to know that whatever we are embarking on now is to be make your community safer and better,” he added.

He explained that the nightly curfews will continue for as long as necessary.

“Today marks the beginning of a second 48-hour [curfew] in these spaces, so for as long as we deem it to be relevant, as long as the risk still exists then we will be having these curfews,” he said.

He reminded citizens that it is a crime to harbour fugitives.

“I am going to also encourage the persons in these communities that persons I within your space that are committing atrocities. We ask you not to shield them, not to shelter them. Reach out to us,” he said.

— Kasey Williams