The St Catherine North police are searching for a group of men who engaged them in a gun battle and shot up a police car in the process.

Reports from the police are that about 11 p.m. a group of police went into the Shelter Rock community in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Gunmen pinned them down for more than an hour. The police summoned for assistance and a team from the nearby Spanish Town Police Station went to their aid.

Upon reaching near to the Spanish Town Health Centre, gunmen drove up and sprayed the car with bullets.

The lawmen miraculously escaped injuries and, in an effort to get away from the heavy gunfire, sought refuge at the Spanish Town Hospital.

"From I join the police force, is the first time gunmen ever fire so much shot at mi. Things really sticky pon us," a policeman said.

His views were echoed by other policemen, who said they hoped things would normalise soon.

Meanwhile, police and military personnel have been deployed throughout Spanish Town.