There are fewer criminal gangs now in Trinidad and Tobago than there were at the start of this year.
Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Donna Cox, revealed yesterday that there were now an estimated 81 gangs in operation in Trinidad and Tobago.
National Security Minister Martin Joseph, in January of this year, had stated that there were 86 gangs in the country.
Cox, in answer to a question, disclosed in the House of Representatives yesterday that the police found that most gangs consisted of 10 to 30 members. However, she added, there are a few gangs which comprise as many as 50 members. She said the average age of gang members ranged between 14 and 44 years.
When Joseph gave his figures earlier this year, he said there were 86 gangs with an average membership of 15 to 20, suggesting potentially 1,720 gang members. This was a significant hike from 2005, when there were some 66 gangs, involving 500 persons, he had stated.
Yesterday, Cox said the Police Service and law enforcement had strengthened initiatives aimed at reducing the number of gangs and gang-related murders. She said consideration was being given to enacting legislation prohibiting the formation of and membership in criminal gangs, as obtains in other countries.
Cox said as the agency assigned specific responsibility for inhibiting the formation of gangs and curbing gang-related activities, the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF), working in conjunction with the Defence Force, had deployed forces into areas known for gang-related activities to undertake intelligence-based operations. In addition to frequent conducting of road checks, raids and searches, the IATF had intensified the number of foot and mobile patrols, she added.
She said the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT), Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service, Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, IATF and intelligence units, were all working collaboratively to devise and implement new and creative strategies to reduce and eventually eliminate gang formation and operation in Trinidad and Tobago.
Among the specific measures undertaken to deal with the prevalence of gangs are: establishment of four police/army posts in the Morvant/Laventille and Port of Spain areas-Fort Picton, Fort Chacon, Charford Court and Jusamco Base; conduct of joint police and army patrols in the Bagatelle and Richplain areas; recall of law enforcement officers from vacation leave; fast-tracking of pending cases of gang members and the relatives; increase in identification of gang members and mapping of gang territories; increase in intelligence-sharing among law enforcement units; increase in resources and strength for Pride in Gonzales Project.
