High-level police officers are concerned about gangs luring kids to commit violent crimes in Winnipeg.

Between 2007 and 2009, 12 out of 30 gang-related homicides in Winnipeg were committed by young offenders, said officials.

Winnipeg police brought the issue to parliament last year, with one inspector telling a committee on justice and human rights that many Canadian citizens would be surprised to know that so-called "child soldiers" are found in many Canadian cities.

Insp. Jim Poole from the Winnipeg Police Service addressed the committee with concerns.

"This is a disturbing trend employed by high-ranking gang members to recruit pre-teens and young teenagers into the gang, with the sole purpose of using those individuals to carry out violent acts, up to and including murder," said Poole to the committee.

Julian Spence, 11, has been pressured by strangers to join gangs, something which even his brother tried to get him to do.

"When I said, ‘no,' he looked at me and started pushing me around and punching me in the stomach and that's when I (started) crying," said Spence.

The young boy said he hopes to go to college, get a job, a house and start family, while avoiding the influence of gangs.

Along with violent crimes, gangs are recruiting kids to do other work, such as looking out for police or acting as drug mules, and moving packages in school bags.

"(They're) even using infants to carry around their drugs…hiding them in their diapers and stuff like that," said Max Cook. Now an adult, Cook was mixed up with gangs when he was nine, asked by senior gang members to carry out violent acts so that they didn't have to do them and risk jail time.

"People are actually still telling these kids you'll just get a slap on the wrist—nothing is going to happen to you," said Cook.

Police said newcomers to Canada are most at risk.

"A lot of these children are being recruited as soon as they come to the country," said Det. Will DeGroot from Winnipeg police's organized crime unit.

In the last few years, he's been working with Canada Border Services to get dangerous gang members, who have been exploiting youth, deported from the country.

While the issue of gangs luring kids remains a major issue, DeGroot said senior members from one local street gang have been fleeing Winnipeg as police work to dismantle it.

- with a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley