In response to three murders in the first 12 days of the year, acting police commissioner Erwin Boyce has pledged to intensify efforts to combat the growing violence, warning criminals that law enforcement will come after them.
During a press conference, Boyce emphasized that Barbadians should not feel unsafe in their daily lives. He expressed concern over the recent spike in violence, noting that while crime control strategies were successful during the holiday and tourist seasons, the first two weeks of the year have raised major concerns among the police.
He declared: “It is not reassuring that in just thirteen days of the year we have had three murders, robberies, youth crime and concerns about the traffic police. I emphasize road policing because this is one of the areas we need to focus on during this meeting.
“Three murders – based on our preliminary investigation, these were acts of interpersonal violence and intentional. Intentional, or as some might call them, targeted killings. The most recent incident occurred less than 36 hours ago in Kirtons, St. Philip. The investigation is still in its early stages so we have put together a team to handle it and ensure all areas of concern are thoroughly investigated.”
The Acting Commissioner emphasized that there is no place for violent, anti-social behavior, especially when individuals use weapons indiscriminately. He assured that police would investigate all parties involved in criminal activities. Boyce promised that the police would work relentlessly to ensure that Barbados remains a safe place and that there are no areas where citizens feel unsafe.
He also addressed the increasing use of vehicles in crimes and emphasized the need for better mobile policing to tackle traffic violations and protect citizens. Special attention will be paid to lawless motorcyclists causing disruption on the roads.
Boyce encouraged residents to adopt a “see-say” attitude and share information with police to help prevent crime. He urged people not to hesitate in reporting crime or potential threats, stressing that security is a collective responsibility. Last year, Barbados recorded 50 murders.
Crime rates in Barbados according to Numbeo
Based on data from NumbeoThe world’s largest database of countries, Barbados is classified as a “medium” safe country, with a safety index of 54.67 points.
Now let’s look at some other recent safety statistics.
| Crime level | 51.52 | Moderate |
| Increase in crime in the last three years | 72.02 | High |
| Concerns about home burglary | 43.45 | Moderate |
| Worried about being robbed | 43.45 | Moderate |
| Statistics of cars being stolen | 32.70 | Low |
| Things are stolen from cars | 42.56 | Moderate |
| Afraid of being attacked | 39.43 | Moderate |
| Worried about being offended | 38.21 | Low |
| Worries about being physically attacked because of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or religion | 29.72 | Low |
| Problems with drug addicts and drug dealers | 45.19 | Moderate |
| House vandalism and theft | 45.68 | Moderate |
| Statistics of violent crimes such as assault and armed robbery | 48.77 | Moderate |
US travel advisory for Barbados
The US travel advisory for Barbados currently lists the island as a “Level 1: Move normal precautions” destination. This indicates that Barbados is generally safe for travelers, with no significant risks or threats to U.S. citizens.
However, visitors are still encouraged to follow usual safety practices, such as remaining aware of their surroundings and exercising caution in certain areas. As with any travel, it is always advisable to stay abreast of local news and follow the specific travel recommendations of the U.S. Department of State.
