Police officers tackling Bermuda's gangs from the front line will be sent to the United States to gain experience with the FBI task force.

The move is part of the link-up which will see FBI officers training their Bermudian counterparts and conducting a review of the Island's anti-gang strategy.

New Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva said of the link-up: "It's an opportunity for us to engage with law enforcement experts that deal on a daily basis with this problem we are experiencing. This is all they do."

While in Bermuda, the FBI will hold a workshop with the criminal justice system to show how groups like the Department of Public Prosecutions, probation and prison service can better work together and provide tips on operational tactics.

Around Easter, the same process will be repeated with officers from the West Midlands and Metropolitan Police forces from the UK.

Mr. DeSilva said the FBI deals with very similar gangs to Bermuda, while the UK's law and Police structures are similar to Bermuda's.

He told The Royal Gazette that, despite the intensifying pressure following the surge in gang violence, morale remains high among the Island's armed Police.

However, he warned: "The law of averages drive up the possibility of an armed engagement with members of the public. We increase the chances that an armed officer might shoot at a suspect. That's on my mind every day because that's not happened to us before.

"If it happens for the first time it will be a sad day but it will be a significant event for Bermuda."