THE criminal underworld is known to be cold, brutal and merciless, but that beast has a soft underbelly — women — whose input helps to keep the machinery operating efficiently.

Females, especially those involved in gangs, may not carry out the dastardly acts of murders, robberies or other nefarious activities themselves, but they have active, supporting roles in the day-to-day affairs of these well-knit groups.

According to assistant commissioner of police (ACP) in charge of crime Fitz Bailey, the gangs’ female counterparts — be it mother, girlfriend, aunt, sister — all have a crucial role to play in the smooth running of the organisation. He said that for every known gangster, there is at least one female who is closely associated with him.

“It’s almost impossible for a gang to be an effective gang without females playing some [vital] roles. Some of them provide that significant support in terms of helping with the movement of firearms, taking firearms to various locations where these gangsters want to perpetuate their crimes,” ACP Bailey told the Jamaica Observer.

“They use different methods. For example, in one of the cases that we did the women actually transported the weapon in a bag that they use to take the baby clothes and Pampers. So, they would either take it to the scene and, after the incident, they will retrieve the firearm and take it to the place where it is normally secured or what they call ‘lock’ the firearm,” he said.

The lawman further revealed that women also take on the task of hiding the gangsters’ loot, whether through the formal banking system or other means.

“We have had a situation where the parent — the mother — was aware that they [gangsters] went and did several robberies, and the money that they seized from the robbery, she actually hid the money on behalf of the gangsters,” he said.

ACP Bailey further recalled that there are also situations in which mothers are aware that their children are involved with gangs and provide advice for the women involved with their gangster sons.

“In one instance, one woman who was one of three girlfriends of a gangster, the mother would advise her how she must prepare the meals [for her son] and encourage her to ensure that the meal is properly prepared, the type of meal that she should prepare — and this is [usually] healthy food,” he said.

He said that some women act as the lookout or “spotters” so they will identify the target for the gangster, especially when they are planning to commit a murder.

The lawman said it is also a well known fact that women wash the bloody clothes of gangsters after they have committed murders. He further noted that at the point when some gangsters meet their demise, a woman is in their company.

ACP Bailey said that while the police are aware of the involvement of women in gangs, they are at times hard-pressed to find enough solid evidence to be able to bring them before the court.

“Sometimes as an investigator you are aware of some things [but] you just don’t have the evidence to bring that matter before the court in terms of the threshold that is required for evidential purpose. You may not attain that threshold but you are aware based on a number of factors — intelligence, other investigative efforts that you have embarked on — but the evidence is not so strong for you to advance on prosecution against them,” he said.

ACP Bailey said that several women involved in gangs have been taken in by the police and interviewed, “and they are aware that we know that they are involved”. He said that where sufficient evidence is unearthed, the women are brought before the court.

“As law enforcement the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will continue to do our investigations. And it doesn’t matter whether you are male or female — once we identify and find the appropriate evidence, we are going to put you before the court,” he asserted.

“We have gotten convictions for women who have been involved in serious crimes. In terms of the gangs, in the Uchence Wilson gang case there were some women who were charged,” he said, adding that in a current gang-related case now before the court, which he could not say much on, women are also involved, “especially one that is so critical to the case”.

ACP Bailey said it is women who normally set standards in society and are looked to as good examples, so this set who willingly disrupt the status quo and provide support to the criminal underworld makes the problems of society “become a little more complex”.

He said what compounds the issue is that women involved often end up getting killed in the signature crossfire of gang activity.

“Other than those domestic, interpersonal type of violence meted out to women, a lot of women are killed because of their involvement and association with the criminal underworld, especially gangs,” he said.

According to police statistics, 224 females were killed between 2019 and 2022 due to their involvement/association with gangs.