July 23 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez will sign a decree in coming days to create a national police force, Interior and Justice Minister Pedro Carreno said.

The new police force is part of a government effort to crack down on gang violence and reduce murders. Police officers will also work with community leaders to deter people from joining gangs, Carreno said.

``We have to continue to work to dismantle these gangs,'' Carreno said today in comments broadcast by Venezolana de television.

Venezuela has the highest murder rate in the region with 12,557 homicides last year, up 26 percent from 2006 and more than double 1998's total. About three-quarters of those murders come from gang conflicts, Carreno said

Expanded government assistant through food, housing and health care subsidies will also cut down on violence, he said.

Venezuela's legislature earlier this year granted Chavez executive authority to rule by degree for 18 months.

Venezuela is working to keep drug trafficking activities from spilling over into the country from neighboring Colombia, Carreno said. The government has destroyed hidden landing strips used in drug trafficking, and confiscated weapons, vehicles and other materials.

To contact the reporters on this story: Matthew Walter in Caracas at mwalter4@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: July 23, 2007 16:15 EDT