Gangs could be receptive to mediation but it would need to be led by people "on a street level", according to community activist Carlton Simmons.

The Youth on the Move (YOM) president told The Royal Gazette he had spoken to gang members and got positive feedback about the possibility of a mediation scheme to resolve disputes.

Attorney General Kim Wilson said this weekend she supported the idea of a civilian mediation scheme but ruled out legislation to make such intervention compulsory in law.

Mr. Simmons said yesterday that Government needed to kick-start the idea by setting up an immediate meeting between the agencies best placed to get involved:

YOM and fellow anti-gang group CARTEL, Police, the Attorney General's Chambers, the Ministry of Social Rehabilitation and the Department of Corrections.

"Since everyone supports the idea, let's not wait until we have multiple more murders," he said. "Let's see what we can do now. I want to push forward for the mediation thing.

"Youth on the Move has been behind the scenes exploring the possibilities and is confident that if the community support is garnered, then the gangs will be receptive. I have spoken to some of the gang members. Ultimately, it will be up to the gangs to decide."

He added: "I want to say to the Attorney General and [Social Rehabilitation Minister] Neletha Butterfield and the Government, that the community groups welcome their support for mediation.

"We look forward to seeing some sort of actual plan and support to assist in that regard from them. I think that they need to get together with people who have demonstrated that they have their own ability to do this work."

Bermuda has seen seven gun murders so far this year, with the majority of them linked by Police to gang rivalries. The latest was the slaying of 47-year-old Raymond Troy "Yankee" Rawlins on Court Street last week.

Mr. Simmons, who has previously acted as a third party intermediary between the gangs and Police, said mediation required special skills and knowledge about those involved in gang crime.

"One of the things I want to make clear is that this work is not for the faint-hearted and it's really not the type of work that everyone can understand.

"You have to understand gang culture and the various beefs and you have to understand the sensitivities that people have felt through various acts of crime.

"Those involved need to be aware of all those things. Just because you want to help, doesn't mean you know how to help.

"If you can't read the signs on the ground, just having a charitable number doesn't qualify you to work in a particular area, especially like gang violence. People on a street level are aware of things that other people are not."

He added: "YOM has demonstrated their ability to work with gangs. We have people on our staff, as board members, who are trained in mediation, as well as crisis intervention.

"We have other groups, like CARTEL, who have some experience. The efforts should be led by groups like that and supported by Government financially as well as legislatively, as well as the Police service and the Attorney General's office."

The charity boss said the various organisations had discussed the idea before "but now I think it's time to get everybody in the room and to suggest a way forward".

He said mediation had worked in other jurisdictions, as he saw for himself when he travelled to the States with Government officials.

"We went to a number of facilities, including Washington DC, which has a huge gang problem, and saw firsthand how they go about intervening with shootings and gang violence."

Ms Butterfield did not respond to a request for comment but a spokesman for her Ministry referred queries to the Ministry of Public Safety. "This is not a matter for the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation," he said.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Public Safety, which is responsible for the Department of Corrections, said: "The Ministry has no plans to issue a statement on the matter."

Bermuda Police Service did not respond by press time. Senator Wilson is on leave and could not be reached.