Police have identified two emerging criminal gangs which are actively recruiting young men in the Englerston community, Officer-in Charge of the Central Detective Unit (CDU) Superintendent Paul Rolle said yesterday.

During a press conference at CDU headquarters, Supt. Rolle acknowledged that the inner-city community was a growing criminal hotspot and that in light of a recent crime spate officers have had to beef up their presence in the area.

He noted that as officers are working to bring about safety and a reduction in the fear of crime among residents in the area, there is concern that these gangs are seeking to cause trouble for the community.

“There are some persons who are trying to assemble themselves as gangs in that Englerston area and we’re not going to allow it,” Supt. Rolle said.

“There are at least two identified groups that we are going to be targeting and we are going to continue to target them and I want them to understand that we are going to continue because we are not going to let them wreak the kind of havoc and to achieve that which they are trying to do in that community and any community. We’re going to continue to pursue them and we’re going to flush them out.”

Several murders have occurred in the Englerston community and police have indicated that many of these incidents could be revenge killings as a result of turf wars.

Police have increased night patrols in the area and according to Supt. Stephen Dean, officer-in-charge of the Crime Prevention Office, these increased patrols are spawning positive results.

“We have taken preparatory steps to look at the area,” he said. “There is intelligence on the ground. We have been meeting with residents and community leaders so if you live in the area or visit the area, you will see increased police presence. We intend to reduce the fear of crime in the area.”

Supt. Dean said the police will not allow a small group of people to take over the community and put the lives of residents in fear.