Crime rates have fallen significantly across Antigua and Barbuda compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda.
During Wednesday’s police press conference, Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifton Cabral revealed that total number of reported crimes has dropped from 1,232 to 996 when comparing year-to-date figures.
“Where we are this year in comparison to last year. Last year at this stage, we had 1,232 cases reported to the police of crime. This year so far, the same comparison is 996. So, we see a decline in all areas, all areas,” Cabral said.
Property crimes have also seen substantial improvement. “We have breaking and larceny, house breaking and building breaking and larceny. You have 220 this year. We have 286 last year. So, we have a substantial amount of decline this year as to last year,” Cabral explained.
However, Cabral acknowledged one concerning exception to the positive trend. “Murder, we have three at this stage last year, and we have five at this stage this year. Murder that we can say is murder, not the man in prison as yet. Murder that we can say murder, the pathologist comes back and say they were shot, they were stabbed.”
Addressing public concerns about missing persons, Cabral provided current figures without offering a year-over-year comparison. “As far as the missing person is concerned, because that seems to be a big one. We have for this year, but not giving the stats for last year.
We have a total of 16 reported to the police. Out of that 16 is only three that is on land that we have not accounted for,” he said.
The overall reduction in crime rates comes as welcome news for residents and businesses throughout Antigua and Barbuda, though authorities continue to work diligently on solving the unresolved cases, particularly the increase in homicides and the three outstanding missing persons cases.
