Crime down, forensic lab needed says Crime fighting boss

Despite the alarming homicide numbers that have plagued this country over the last few years, more so 55 deaths in 2023 and 54 killings in 2024, crime overall is down in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

“While we are concerned about firearm offences, these are not the only offences committed here,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) with responsibility for fighting crime in SVG Trevor “Buju” Bailey said last week.

“In 2023, St Vincent and the Grenadines recorded 4134 crimes…at the end of November, 2024 we recorded 3485 crimes.”

Speaking on the On the Beat programme on NBC Radio on Tuesday, January 7,2025, the ACP said when talking about crime statistics, one has to also focus on other incidents, not just homicides, although a homicide is a serious issue.

Giving the statistics, he said that February, 2024, recorded the most incidents – 421. He said this number was more than what was recorded in any other month last year.

“…421 crimes in that month and we never reach 400 again in any other month,” ACP Bailey stressed.

He said the statistics saw crime down in March, 2024, with 325 reports. The veteran officer noted that in April, 2024, there were 337, while May had 333 reports. In June there were 312, July had 306, and in August 261 incidents were reported. September had 311, October had 291, and 294 matters of crime were reported in November 2024.

“It is important that we put these figures out there because pretty often we hear the notion that crime is spiralling out of control and that is not so,” Bailey pointed out.

“Of concern again is our homicides and sometimes, people think that because there may be an increase in the commission of homicides that there is a spike in crime throughout the state, and that is not so.”

He, however, acknowledged that 2024 was a “very challenging” year for law enforcement as there was a period it appeared as if the RSVGPG was stretched as they struggled to get things under control.

“I say that we have an issue with firearms and firearm related offences. Shootings were regular, and you can tell people were uneasy with the frequent use of firearms,” Bailey noted.

“The men and women of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force ought to be commended for their hard work, and I am grateful for the service and work that the men and women do on a daily basis,” Bailey said, while adding that the RSVGPF does not have some of the luxuries that other nations have as part of their crime fighting assets.

“We have our challenges with our housing where we live and dwell on a daily basis. That is a challenge, so coupled with those challenging circumstances and the work that we do on a daily basis, we applaud the men and women who ensure that SVG is still a safe place that we can walk at any time and go at our choosing,” Bailey stressed.

He said that in 2025, the RSVGPF is hoping to expand the placement of cameras in areas outside of Kingstown.

“…and that will aid us in our investigations to see and hear more what is happening around Kingstown.” He added that there will be increased daily police presence and they will give criminally minded individuals no place to turn.

The ACP noted also that the police intends to aggressively pursue criminals as they try to investigate matters and get them resolved as fast as possible so not to embolden offenders.

He noted as well that they are plan to establish more neighbourhood watch groups while assigning police officer to these groups. The ACP is also hoping for the establishment of a forensic lab in SVG and the provision of a greater presence in the schools.

“Often, we go to the school only at the request of the principal when they say a group is troublesome, but we need to have regular scheduled visits,” ACP Bailey concluded.