Government has identified a number of safe houses for people wanting to get away from gangs and already some people are using them, although exact details are being kept secret.

And it was revealed that Police have been getting unprecedented levels of cooperation as they try and combat the violence.

The network of safe houses has been set up in the wake of an escalation of violence that has seen three men shot dead in the space of 12 days. Altogether four men have been killed by guns since May.

Yesterday Premier Ewart Brown said: "We have the assistance of CARTEL, an organisation run by Pastor Leroy Bean, and they have been working hand in hand with us to identify young men and women that wish to find a safe place because many of the youngsters are afraid and need to seek refuge."

Dr. Brown said he was contacted over the weekend by a mother and a girlfriend of a gang member, and both said they wanted to get out of the gang lifestyle.

He said: "Over the weekend a mother of a young man involved with gang activity made direct contact with me and indicated that she had heard Minister Burch, the Commissioner, Governor and myself making comments about how important it was for those people that were closely connected with gang culture to come forward. And essentially what she said is she was tired of it.

"She didn't want anymore of the stress and the strain and death to be close to her and she was taking steps to make sure that her house was not a house that could be considered involved.

"Shortly after that I got an e-mail and had a phone conversation with a girlfriend who had been involved with a member of a gang and she indicated likewise that she wanted out of it."

He added: "She never thought it would come to this. And I told her in my experience in Los Angeles and how it does come to this. And so she too pledged to get out of this and to urge her girlfriends to cut it loose as well."

He urged individuals in fear of their safety to contact Pastor Bean on 734-7972 or MP Michael Weeks who are working around the clock to ensure that streets are safe.

Dr. Brown was speaking at a press conference at Government House alongside new Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva, Governor, Sir Richard Gozney and Safety Minister David Burch.

According Mr. DeSilva, the community has seen unprecedented levels of cooperation in the past week. "But it's not time to rest. Not yet," he said.

"From where I sit we in the law enforcement community are doing our part to the best of our ability. We have placed one or two people before the court with the cooperation of the Department of Public Prosecutions, for firearms offences."

Mr. DeSilva continued: "We are out in the community day and night but we still need cooperation and information coming directly from the community.

He urged the public: "Give us information. Tell us where the guns are and we will come get them.

"Tell us who is doing the shootings and we will come and arrest them. Tell us where the drugs are and we will come and seize them. That is our commitment to this community."

Governor Sir Richard Gozney said the press conference was called to reassure the public that Government and Police have put all options for fighting gun crime on the table. "We are working together, Government and the Police as closely as we ever have in the two years since I have been here. That means we will be in close touch with each other over Christmas."