Bermuda's gangs are swarming with huge numbers of young men who fear for their lives and want to get out but can't, according to new Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva.

Many of the Island's 350 or so gangsters joined under the impression they were getting into a glamorous lifestyle — but now realise their dreams were based on false perceptions, Mr. DeSilva told The Royal Gazette.

He said most want to escape a culture where cold-blooded assassinations have become the norm, often with motives as trivial as revenge for approaching a rival's girlfriend.

However they can't quit their gangs, partly because they are stuck living in the same communities as their gang leaders.

Mr. DeSilva — who is getting information from grassroots activists — says the solution is a long-term approach of better education and social programmes with full input from the whole community.

He said the Police's task in the short-term is to step up patrols and, through the help of the public, catch the relatively small number of hard-core criminals running the gangs.

Speaking after three fatal gang-related shootings in a 12-day period, Mr. DeSilva told this newspaper: "We know from our intelligence and from community action groups there's a huge proportion of these men who want out.

"There is a huge realisation for many of them that this lifestyle is actually far less glamorous than it appeared originally and their lives are at risk and they want out.

"If it's as simple as finding another apartment and not hanging around with these guys any more, they would have done it. Beyond the intimidation aspect, who in Bermuda can pick up an apartment overnight and move themselves out of a troubled neighbourhood?

"We are engaged with as many people as we are to see how we can solve this problem. We are making sure we talk to community groups, neighbourhood watches. Whoever is putting themselves out there to make things safer, we are saying: 'We would like to talk to you.'"

Mr. DeSilva said community groups consistently say that to break the cycle young people need better education, good jobs, decent living accommodation and financial help looking after their loved ones.

"They are thrown into this world where they can't cope with anything so they abandon their principles and go for an easier lifestyle which is now becoming life threatening," he said.

Mr. DeSilva said most of the fighting is due to vengeance, often over incredibly petty arguments.

"They know they are supposed to fight with this group of people but they don't know why," he said.

"The events that drive them to killing are nothing to do with the big picture. Is it turf war? Is it about a monopoly of drugs sales? We are not getting that sense.

"The flashpoints all seem to come from this concept of disrespect. Approaches to girlfriends that are deemed to be inappropriate. Coming into an area you are not supposed to be in. One of the members gets a gold chain stolen and they have to show them they can't do that.

"They are not random, they are not for monetary gain, they are not robberies gone wrong or house break-ins. They are cold-blooded assassinations that come from a place of retribution and vindictiveness.

"We need to ask the community what is making these people feel like this."