Murders Up By 63% in 2021, Overall Crime Unchanged

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle revealing a 63% spike in murders in 2021 when compared to 2020.

Jared Higgs has more crime figures from the commissioner’s press conference today.

That figure is a 63% jump from the 73 murders recorded in 2020, during a year of strict coronavirus rules that limited movement.

Rolle says police solved 56% of murders in 2021. While overall crime was relatively the same in 2020 and 2021, there was an 18% increase in crimes against the person last year.

Among the major categories there was a 34% increase in attempted murders, a 7% increase in reported rape cases, a 23% decline in cases of unlawful sexual intercourse, a 33% increase in armed robbery and a 36% increase in attempted robbery.

Rolle also revealed there were 20 police involved shootings – 11 fatal and 9 non-fatal.

Rolle provided more details about the consequences of a police-involved shooting where there were four victims.

With some growing wary of police involved shootings, Rolle says he always tries to maintain a good working relationship with members of the public, and he hopes his work in addressing breaches is a step in the right direction.