The Bermuda Police Service has already identified the Island's prolific priority offenders who are responsible for a majority of the serious crime here.

Over Christmas, a ceasefire was brokered through the help of community group Youth on the Move and Police have used other community groups to communicate with Bermuda's gangs.

But according to Operation Ceasefire founder David Kennedy, it is time for Police to meet face to face with Bermuda's gang members and tell them enough is enough.

This, coupled with a coordinated effort from the Department of Social Services and community action groups, should help turn the tide against rising gun violence, he feels.

According to the National Network for Safe Communities, where Mr. Kennedy is director, for Operation Ceasefire to work three groups need to be involved: the affected community, social service providers and law enforcement.

The law enforcement group typically includes the police, prosecutors and probation and parole officers.

Meanwhile the social service group should look at helping youths in gangs receive education, job training and placement, as well as housing and substance abuse treatment and other services.

A strong community group involving clergy, ex-offenders, gang outreach workers and the families of victims should also be involved in the process.

Once those groups are ready to work together they must all deliver warnings to gangs that, if violence occurs, there will be a swift, predictable response with weighty consequences.

This is usually done through a call-in where parolees and those on Police bail attend a meeting with the law enforcement-community partnership.

They are told that the community will no longer tolerate their actions and outline that violent behaviour will result in immediate and intense consequences not just for the perpetrator of the violence but also members of his gang. At the same time the group must offer genuine ways to help those who want it.

One of the strengths of Operation Ceasefire is that when violence does break out, Police begin targeting not just the perpetrators but also members of their gang and friends. This involves arresting them for minor crimes such as speeding or loitering and large crimes. The process is known as "pulling legal levers".

Other legal levers include sending parole officers out to check that people are adhering to court-imposed curfews. The Department of Public Prosecutions can also give certain crimes priority.

The programme has been hailed a success in diverse communities such as Boston, Cincinnati and Glasgow, Scotland.

To find out more go to www.nnscommunities.org.