Police estimate up to 100 gang members could be engaged in hard-core criminal activity on the Island.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Mike Jackman said although gang culture was "alien to Bermuda", a profile study has shown "very detailed coverage from St. George's to Somerset".

"To some it's just a fad to copy what's happening in the US, but when you're talking about real serious criminal activity, we are talking about four or five (gangs)," he said.

"There's a core group that we're aware of, involved not so much in gangs but real gang activity like drugs and intimidating other people and assaults."

He said a Police study has estimated between 50 and 100 people are engaged in serious crime, and said detectives were now focusing on the ringleaders.

"We will look at the prolific persons in that group," he said.

Police are also to double the number of Armed Response Vehicles and deploy officers on a 24/7 basis in the areas where two drive-by shootings took place at the weekend.

Mr. Jackman could not disclose the operational number, but said the patrols will monitor the neighbourhoods of St. Monica's Road and Court Street, plus other areas "where suspected firearms activity is likely to take place".

Police Commissioner George Jackson and Mr. Jackman yesterday announced a raft of measures to beef up Police presence on the streets. The Commissioner said the Force faced "an unprecedented level of criminality", in light of recent events which left one man dead and four others injured. Detectives believe the incidents are gang-related.

Mr. Jackson said Premier Ewart Brown's call for overseas specialist officers to be drafted in was still on the table.

"We are exploring all options from a law enforcement standpoint and we have not ruled out anything at all."

He added the Police would increase their interaction with agencies involved in social issues but insisted officers would confront gun-related activity head-on. "This is a new era of policing and the Bermuda Police Service is acutely aware of the fears and the apprehension that exists in our community," said Mr. Jackson. "We are very determined that we will not surrender our Island to a small but persistent group of individuals, who are determined to promote a way of life that is foreign to our culture.

"We have made some progress in relation to the recent shootings and a further press conference will be held by the investigators to provide an update," he said.

Assistant Commissioner Mr. Jackman said: "We have heard the call for more visibility, and getting additional resources into frontline policing has been addressed by shifting an additional ten percent of our Service's Police officers into operational roles."

However it is up to the community to report any anti-social behaviour to Police, he added. "We can no longer give covering to persons in our community that sell drugs, carry weapons and contribute openly to the breakdown of our society.

"The community must make them uncomfortable in functioning around us."

Anyone with any information regarding the shootings is urged to contact the Serious Crime Unit on 299 8115 or 295 0011. The confidential CrimeStoppers hot line is: 1 800 623 8477.