Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles speaks during a press conference on February 3, 2025. Photo: Nikia Charlton
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
SEVENTY-TWO percent of murder victims in 2024 were known to police, 15 percent were killed while on bail, and 11 percent were under electronic monitoring at the time of their murder, according to statistics police have released.
The percentage of murder victims on bail –– an issue over which police officials and policymakers have long raised alarm –– appeared to decline sharply compared to 2023. Up to November 2023, 42 percent of murder victims were on bail, Ministry of National Security consultant Carlos Reid told The Tribune at the time.
Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles led the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s annual Meet the Press event where she discussed last year’s crime statistics.
The Bahamas recorded 120 homicides last year, a nine percent increase from 110 in 2023. New Providence accounted for 105 homicides, Grand Bahama had 12, and the Family Islands had three.
Firearms were used in 102 of those cases, with retaliation, gang violence, and personal conflicts being the leading motives –– 72 percent of the total. Police believe they solved sixty-two percent of murder cases.
Traffic-related concerns remained significant, with a 16 percent increase in fatal crashes, resulting in 66 deaths from 59 accidents.
Sexual offences increased by three percent last year, with 211 incidents reported compared to 204 in 2023. These included rape, unlawful sexual intercourse, and attempted rape.
In rape cases, 98 percent of victims were female, 74 percent knew their assailant, and 85 percent were under the age of 35. Sixteen percent of victims were tourists. All suspects were male, with 61 percent under the age of 35.
Regarding unlawful sexual intercourse, 92 percent of victims knew their assailant, and 72 percent of incidents occurred at residences. Victim demographics showed that 61 percent were aged 14–16, and 66 percent were under 14. Two victims had mental impairments, 16 cases involved incest, and six were categorised as unnatural acts.
Commissioner Rolle said reports of major crimes in The Bahamas declined by ten percent, from 3,153 incidents in 2023 to 2,825 in 2024.
This included a 28 percent reduction in reported armed robberies.
Crimes against persons decreased by 13 percent, from 797 incidents in 2023 to 696 in 2024. There were regional differences: Grand Bahama saw a 19 percent rise, and the Family Islands reported a 14 percent increase. New Providence saw a 16 percent decrease in reports about crimes against people, despite the rise in homicides.
Armed robberies saw a 28 percent drop, with firearms and knives being the primary weapons used. Thirty-six percent of these robberies occurred on the street, 27 percent at residences, 25 percent at businesses, eight percent in parking lots, three percent at beaches, and one percent at churches.
In total, 104 vehicles were stolen during armed robberies, with 50 percent recovered.
Vehicle thefts sharply increased by 53 percent, with 392 reported in 2024, up from 257 in 2023. The majority of stolen vehicles were Nissan models, followed by Hondas and Toyotas.
In 2024, police investigated 2,399 crimes, with 721 leading to identifications. Authorities seized 421 illegal firearms and 29,012 rounds of ammunition, an increase of 19 percent and 223 percent compared to 2023.
There was a 25 percent decrease in police-involved shootings, with nine incidents recorded, one of which was fatal. Commissioner Knowles said the RBPF remains committed to transparency and accountability, with Deputy Commissioner Kirkwood Andrews overseeing investigations into police misconduct.
The Missing and Exploited Persons Investigation Team reported an 11 percent decrease in missing persons cases, with 277 incidents in 2024. Of these, 256 were solved, while 21 remain under investigation.
Comments
bahamianson 1 week, 2 days ago
People saw hanging doesn’t work , so stop hanging. Well, the jail isn’t working so shut it down. Let the killers and rapist roam the streets
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