Barbados close to pre-pandemic murder rates

A dramatic surge in murders this year has so far left 45 people dead, compared to 20 in 2023, bringing Barbados close to its pre-COVID-19 pandemic peak, a government report has revealed.

And a senior lawman has warned that violence stemming from perceived “disrespect” is emerging as a threat to law and order in the country.

The spike in killings comes amid growing concern over the increasing involvement of children in serious violent crimes, according to the findings presented by criminologist in the Attorney General’s Office,  Kim Ramsay on Tuesday.

Revealing that the age of offenders is “significantly decreasing” with many individuals between 11 and 15 years old being charged with serious offences like murder and robbery, she said: “We have 16-year-olds committing murder, fresh out of school and obviously with no guidance. These young people are not only perpetrators but increasingly victims of violent crime as well.”

The island is approaching its highest murder count in recent years, which reached approximately 50 in 2019.

“We’ve just come out of one of our lowest rates of homicides in 10 years, and now we’re at 45 murders, and we’re not even finished the year yet. That’s deeply concerning for us,” Ramsay said.

The criminologist reported that this shift has underscored the need for targeted interventions.

“We must address this young population who are becoming involved in and affected by crime with various social programmes that provide structure, guidance, and alternatives for these youths,” she advised.

The report highlighted that firearms were used in 70 per cent of slayings, though violent crimes constitute only seven per cent of the average 6 400 cases reported annually.

Also of concern, according to Ramsay, are property violations, particularly theft and burglary, which she revealed remain the most prevalent, accounting for a substantial portion of reported cases.

Whilst overall crime resolution stands at 64 per cent, Ramsay presented findings that the police struggle to solve property crimes effectively, with only 17 per cent of residential burglaries being solved.

The findings also revealed widespread assaults across all police divisions, often resulting from unresolved conflicts that escalate.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Irwin Boyce reported the rise of cybercrime and violence stemming from perceived “disrespect” are emerging as critical threats to law and order in Barbados.

He traced a changing landscape of criminal behaviour, with malicious online communications becoming a particular concern.

“Crime has changed over time. What used to be offences many years ago are either consolidated into particular offences, or they are emerging as new threats, crime threats,” Boyce said.

The senior lawman expressed specific concern about online harassment, describing how it creates “harassment or annoyance at the expense of an individual using the media”.

Boyce also pointed to a troubling trend of violence linked to perceived slights.

“We are seeing a level of violence coming out of that word, ‘disrespect’,” he said, noting this as a critical issue amid escalating societal violence.

In response to these shifting patterns, Boyce called for a more collaborative, evidence-based approach to policing, emphasising that law enforcement cannot operate in isolation.

“Policing is not to be seen in silos. It has to be seen as a collaborative activity,” he said.

The deputy commissioner acknowledged that different regions of the island face distinct challenges, with the Northern, Southern and Bridgetown Divisions each confronting unique issues based on their demographic and socioeconomic profiles.

“The reporting mechanisms or the type of crime that you see in certain areas, you might not necessarily see in others,” he noted.

While recognising society’s desire for minimal crime, Boyce acknowledged that “because people have choices, there will always be lawbreakers”. He emphasised the importance of research-driven approaches, suggesting they could “provide us with the answers or provide us some level of predictability in the way that we do our business”.

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb