The Barbados Police Service is taking decisive action to address the recent surge in violence. So says Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce in an attempt to reassure Barbadians.
During a press briefing at Police Headquarters in Roebuck Street, Bridgetown, Boyce outlined the measures being implemented to combat the rise in crime. He stated, “The rampant use of firearms has led to the untimely deaths of four citizens and injuries to others. Our goal is to remove these weapons from the hands of young men and restore normalcy to our communities, allowing residents to go about their lives without fear.”
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Boyce reported that, so far this year, the police have confiscated 27 firearms and 262 rounds of ammunition. “Our officers have been working tirelessly around the clock to address this firearm issue, particularly when someone’s life is in imminent danger,” he added.
He noted an overall increase in crime compared to the previous year. “In 2023, we recorded nine murders, whereas 2024 has seen 16 so far. Robberies have decreased from 69 in 2023 to 58 in 2024. Rape cases rose slightly from 21 last year to 22 this year. Aggravated burglaries dropped from 32 to 28, and theft from a person fell from 32 to 29 cases.”
Boyce also highlighted a rise in commercial burglaries, from 56 in 2023 to 63 in 2024, and projected that residential burglaries might surpass last year’s total, with 192 cases reported so far in 2024 compared to 225 in all of 2023.
Despite these challenges, Boyce emphasized positive trends in the overall crime statistics. “There were 444 major crime cases in 2023, compared to 406 in 2024, representing a nine percent reduction. Minor crimes also saw a decrease from 2,265 cases in 2023 to 2,085 in 2024, an eight percent reduction. This amounts to an overall eight percent reduction in crime this year,” he concluded.
