POLICE yesterday detained 104 men during a pre-dawn operation in communities in and around Red Hills Road in St Andrew, trumpeting a New Year's resolve to stamp out crime in the often volatile area.

The operation commenced about 4:00 am and was carried out by members of the St Andrew North police, the Flying Squad, the Mobile Reserve, and Canine Division, Deputy Superintendent Altermoth 'Parra' Campbell, anti-crime boss at the Constant Spring Police Station, told the Sunday Observer.

Campbell said the operation lasted more than five hours and specifically targeted the Park and 100 lane communities, and sections of Whitehall Avenue. It was a direct signal to criminal elements of the police's resolve this year, Campbell said.

"In no uncertain terms! We just have to apologise to the law-abiding citizens who will be affected by our operations," said Campbell, as he appealed for understanding and participation from residents in that area.

Campbell said the detainees were up to late last night still being processed by the police. He said that at least eight persons were arrested for possession of marijuana.

No weapons were recovered in the operation.

The men will also be checked to see whether or not they are wanted for crimes in other police divisions, Campbell said.

The operation, he said, will be a feature of this year's crime reduction initiatives in the area, which has always been treated as a hotspot.

In the meantime, Campbell declined to confirm reports that high-powered rifles were being fired in celebration of the New Year hours before the commencement of their operation.

"Several explosions were heard all over the Corporate Area last night, we cannot say definitively that they were gunshots. And we never saw any spent shells or saw any person fire gunshots when we went around there," he said.