Domestic violence reports to police have increased in 2025, with 33 cases recorded so far this year compared to 25 in 2024 and 22 in 2023, according to statistics shared at yesterday’s launch of the 16 Days of Activism campaign.
Inspector Raymond Findlay of the Criminal Investigations Department presented the figures during a press conference at the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation, highlighting an upward trend in reported cases.
“In 2023, there’s a total of 22 reports of domestic violence made to the police. Four of assault, one aggravated assault, 10 malicious damage, seven wounding, a total of 22.
“Two of these reports were made by males, while 20 were made by females,” Findlay said.
He noted that 2024 saw an increase to 25 reports, including four assaults, one housebreaking, two cases of grievous bodily harm, one battery, 11 malicious damage cases, five wounding incidents, and one shooting.
“That means it’s not coming down, it’s going up,” Findlay added.
This year’s figures show four assault cases and 25 malicious damage reports. Of the 33 reports made in 2025, nine were made by males and 16 by females.
The inspector emphasized that police take domestic violence reports seriously and ensure victim safety. “We, the police, when it comes to domestic violence report, we take this report serious. We ensure the victim’s safety. Whenever a report is made to the police, when it comes to gender affairs, we promptly respond to that report to give support to the victim,” Findlay said.
“If it’s a situation where we have to remove the victim from the home, we remove the victim from the home. We refer that victim to Gender Affairs where they will get support. With respect to the perpetrator, the abuser, that person will be taken into police custody and taken to the St John’s Police Station where investigation will continue,” Findlay said.
He urged anyone experiencing domestic abuse not to be afraid to make a report.
“My advice to people who are going through this kind of domestic abuse, don’t be afraid to make a report. If there’s a situation where you’re afraid of your opponent, if you’re going to make a report, discuss this matter with a family member, a close friend, a counsellor, in order for you to get assistance,” Findlay said.
Meanwhile, he cautioned men to stop posting private images of ex-girlfriends on social media, describing the behaviour as “childish” and emphasizing that courts are treating these cases with utmost seriousness.
“The police have received over the years, a number of cybercrimes, which you will find that a male would be posting the female body parts on social media, and this is because sometimes the relationship broke down and the man wants back the female,” Findlay said.
He noted that some of these reports are currently before the courts and advised people not to store intimate videos or images on their phones, warning that devices can be accessed by others who may copy and distribute content without permission.
“You don’t have to keep your private parts or whatever inside your phone,” Finlay said. “Sometimes when you keep photos in your phone, you may lend somebody your phone to make a phone call. When you think that the person is making a phone call, they’re inside your phone, your WhatsApp chat, your gallery, copy and send it to their phone,” he said.
Findlay added that when these reports are made to police, they are dealt with seriously.
“Stop being childish. We have too much of childish men out there,” he said. He urged men to simply move on from relationships that end. “If you have a woman and you say you love the woman, even though the relationship is being broken up, just move on. It is very serious and the court is taking this very seriously. So, if you all continue, it is jail time,” Findlay said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Directorate of Gender Affairs, Jamie Saunders, described gender-based violence as tantamount to a pandemic, emphasizing that it manifests in many day-to-day scenarios.
He stressed the importance of awareness, noting that many clients coming to the Support and Referral Centre are uncertain whether their experiences constitute gender-based violence.
Saunders explained that beyond physical abuse, mental, emotional, and financial abuse are all very pervasive forms of gender-based violence that often co-occur, making situations more complex.
