Police are getting into the middle schools to prevent gangs from recruiting, a top-ranking officer said last night.Meanwhile, other youths are choosing to self identify as members of various gangs across the Island by mimicking their dress sense and ‘tagging' buildings with gang related graffiti.The Bermuda Police Service held a town hall meeting for residences of the Western parishes last night at Port Royal School.More than 50 people came to discuss issues such as loitering, road fatalities, the need for witness protection and Bermuda's murders.During the meeting members of the public also questioned police about the heavy presence of graffiti in their neighbourhoods, many of it gang related. Police Constable Donville Yarde told the meeting: “Not all of it is done by gang members.“We have a lot of young men who want to be gang members so they identify as one. They get a tattoo; wear certain colours. It's not like the US where they would be in a lot of trouble if they did that and were not initiated into the gang.”Chief Inspector Tracey Adams was then asked how many initiated gang members there were on the Island, when those who self identify with a particular group are taken out of the equation.“It's a difficult question to answer,” he replied. “We know there are others coming up now. We are aware that the gangs are recruiting, and recruiting at a young age. That is why we have officers in the schools to show them other options, to talk to them about the consequences of that lifestyle.”Speaking after the meeting Pc Yarde added: “A lot of these young men are trying to align themselves with different groups. They think it will give them clout. We are seeing it in boys as young as 11 and 12.“Parents and teachers have to be vigilant. Are the boys only wearing certain colours, or do they have a ‘flag', a bandana sticking out their pocket? Are they making hand signals of certain gangs? Their school books are a good place to look too, are they writing ‘42' ‘MOB' ‘Parkside' over everything? These are the things you have to start looking out for.“Recruitment is going on all the time, and at a young age. At a young age it is different, you are not doing lots or heavily involved in the activities of the group.”The police hope to hold a meeting in Sandys soon.Related website: www.bps.bm