The Police Service Social and Welfare Association is appealing to members of the Police Service and the Defence Force to show a measure of restraint during the limited state of emergency. In an interview yesterday, the association's general secretary, Michael Seales, said: "We are asking soldiers and police to act with restraint because of the experience we have had with prior emergencies. "There are law-abiding citizens who will feel the brunt of this intended action, which is to curb the action of criminals," he said.
"We are encouraging all our members to participate in light of the circumstances of its national importance and trust in the issue of reducing crime." Seales said he was assured by the Police Service executive that officers would receive overtime for duty performed during the state of emergency. He said the association was dedicated to the security of the country during the state of emergency. "We are waiting for word from the executive of the plans but we have no word," he said.