CoP: Gangs recruiting 14-year-old boys
File photo.
CRIMINAL gangs in Trinidad and Tobago are recruiting members as young as 14, 15 and 16-years-old into their ranks. Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith made this disclosure to members of the National Security Joint Select Committee on Monday. In doing so, he lamented that the absence of effective anti-gang legislation could reverse gains being made by the police to deal with criminal gangs in the country.
During a virtual meeting held by the JSC, Griffith said the police are seeing the ages of people being recruited into gangs is getting much younger. He continued, The window of opportunity is there for them. Griffith said young boys are targeted by gang members who pull them in, sometimes put them as a sentry, sometimes they give them a firearm and then we have the unfortunate situation, where they have a firearm and then they confront with the police.
CoP: No evidence gangs targeting women
CoP Gary Griffith
COMMISSIONER of Police (CoP) Gary Griffith on Monday said there is no evidence to suggest that established criminal gangs are targeting women.
He made this comment during a virtual meeting hosted by the National Security Joint Select Committee.(JSC).
Responding to a question from Independent Senator Paul Richards, Griffith said, Similar to what would have taken place in the unfortunate death of Ms (Andrea) Bharatt, several persons getting together, strategising, organising to commit an act of violence on someone – that is a gang.
But he added, It may not be an established gang. But we have nothing about established gangs being involved in that type of crime. Griffith explained, The established gangs: primarily their focus is to make money, as much as possible.