Despite a spike in the number of murders last year over, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade revealed yesterday that the latest statistics show that overall serious crimes were on the decline in 2013.

The commissioner’s comments came at a news conference at police headquarters where Mr. Greenslade provided the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s (RBPF) year-end report.

The report revealed that overall serious crimes against the person decreased by four per cent in 2013.
This decrease, the report noted, was influenced by decreases in attempted murder, armed robbery, robbery, robbery and attempted robbery.

However, the police’s official numbers reveal that there was a seven per cent jump in the number of murders that occurred last year – bringing 2013’s figure to 119 from 111 in 2012.

Commissioner Greenslade, however, noted that to date, 61 people have been arrested and charged for murders committed in 2013.

“The detection for murders committed in 2013 now stands at 51 per cent and I hasten to point out that the percentage is improving as we continue to solve cases from 2013,” the commissioner said. “Detectives also continue to pursue cases from earlier years and suspects in these cases will also be placed before the courts.”

The statistics further show that the majority of murders –112 or 94 percent in fact, were recorded in New Providence; five or four per cent on Grand Bahama and two murders occurred on the Family Islands.

An illegal firearm, data shows, was the weapon of choice among murderers in 2013 accounting for 82 per cent of cases or a total of 98 murders. Knives were used in 10 of the cases or eight per cent of last year’s murders.
There was a decrease in the number of armed robberies last year with 1,022 compared to 1,106 in 2012 representing an eight per cent decrease.

In Grand Bahama, armed robberies were down by 30 per cent in 2013 and there was a 70 per cent decrease in armed robberies on the Family Islands.

The commissioner also revealed that there has been a decrease in property crimes in the areas of burglary, housebreakings, shop breakings, stealing and stealing of vehicles.
However, the statistics show an increase in the number of sexual offenses committed last year with the number of rapes being 104 compared to 96 in 2012.
One hundred and fifty-four cases of unlawful sexual intercourse were recorded in 2013 compared to 151 in the previous year.
The report also revealed that police removed 438 illegal firearms from the streets along with 6,853 rounds of ammunition.
Further, the annual report shows that in 2013, 1,251 people were arrested for drug offences with 1,034 of those arrested being charged before the courts.
Commissioner Greenslade said several operations last year led to the seizure of 680 pounds of cocaine, 5,217.51 pounds of marijuana and 35,000 marijuana plants.