Police today announced a new Gang and Violence Reduction Strategy as they formalised their approach to tackling the Island’s soaring gun and drugs problems.

Identifying prolific offenders will be top of the force’s priorities, according to details of the scheme revealed in the Annual Policing Plan at a press conference this morning.

The gangs strategy also includes:

l a targeted deployment plan for the Drugs Unit focusing on supply reduction and asset forfeiture;

l best practice review by FBI, US and UK police services;

l conducting gang disruption training workshops for BPS staff and other stakeholders;

l use of covert policing technology

l conducting training for DPP counsels and BPS investigators in the use of special investigative measures and the related public interest immunity issues.

For more on the annual plan, see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.