Anti-Gang legislation to take effect March — Nelson

ANTI-Gang Legislation, aimed at dismantling the close to 300 "notorious" gangs across the island, is to come into effect by March of this year, according to National Security Minister, Dwight Nelson.

The minister on Saturday warned that this was among several legislations that the government was moving to fast track as part of efforts to curb the country's crime problem.

"I have already alerted Cabinet, I have already discussed it with the Prime Minister and have made the written submission to the Cabinet and discussed it with the Attorney General and the minister of justice to fast track the legislation -- to treat it as priority," the minister said.

The minister was speaking at the annual general meeting of the Kingston Chapter of the Lay Magistrates' Association held at the Kingston Bookshop, downtown Kingston.

According to the police, there are a total of 286 organised gangs in operation across the island.

The police say that the gangs are responsible for the majority of the murders and other crimes across the country.

Meanwhile, the security minister on Saturday expressed concerns about data which showed more women getting involved with the criminal networks that were said to be "franchising" their operations across the island.

"I am going to give the police the right to go into these [communities with] 200 and odd gangs. We have the names of the members and leaders," the minister said, warning that the police would not rest until all the criminal networks were smashed, and severe punishment handed down to the members.

"We are going to put them away in the prisons," Nelson said.

The minister said the anti-gang legislation is intended to target, infiltrate and dismantle gangs, and identify and arrest all members.

The legislation will seek to:

* impose longer sentences on gang members;

* minimise their ability to reorganise;

* provide a window of opportunity for law enforcement to refocus their community policing efforts to prevent other gangs from taking over the community;

* facilitate greater monitoring of documented gang members on bail; and deny documented gang members access to contracts from public and private sector entities.

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