Violent crimes against the person have doubled over last year’s figure, and Acting Commissioner of Police Erwin Boyce, said this was a concern for police as the country geared up for major national celebrations and an influx of visitors over the next three months.
However, Boyce said, there would be no letting up as police had also confiscated 63 firearms, two more than last year and 1 750 bullets compared to 485 in 2024.
In relation to overall reported crime there is a two per cent decrease.
During a press briefing today at headquarters of The Barbados Police Service (TBPS) at the corner of Roebuck and Palmetto Streets, St Michael, Boyce reported that figures for crime overall went down from 4 969 between January to October in 2024 to 4 872 for the same period this year.
“We are not contented with that decline because we are seeing that there is some concerning movement in the total major crime area, which means that we need to focus more on major crimes, and major crimes involve street crimes. For us, major crimes is seeing a 13 per cent increase,” Boyce said.
He was joined in his update of the country by Assistant Commissioners John Boyce, Jefferson Clarke and Barry Hunte and Inspector Ryan Brathwaite, the communication and public affairs officer of the TBPS.
The acting Commissioner said within the category of major crimes there were now 38 homicides when compared with 41 for 2024. Reported robberies were 213 against 100 for the same period last year.
“This is the area that we are now focussing on since in analysing the modus in relation to the homicides, 22 were enabled by firearms,” Boyce said.
Police also expressed concerned about young people in crime and listed figures for this year:
Age 15-19 years – 391 people charged
Age 20-22 years 999 people charged
Age 30- 39 years 877 people charged
Age 40-44 years 376 people charged
