Statistics obtained by the Bahama Journal have revealed that to date, police have confiscated 403 firearms from throughout The Bahamas.

In August, that number stood at 325.

At this same point last year, police took 200 guns into their possession.

Ammunition confiscation is also up this year as police have confiscated 6,025 live rounds when compared to 3,000 at this same point last year.

Just this past weekend, police arrested a 19-year-old man in the Balfour Avenue area.

When police searched the man, he was found with an unlicensed firearm and a quantity of ammunition in his possession. He is expected to be charged in court sometime this week.

Superintendent Stephen Dean recently told the Bahama Journal that the police’s success is a result of “excellent police intelligence.”

“I think this is because of the success of our intelligence-led policing programme that we have put in place,” he said.

“A number of police operations are conducted on a daily basis and our officers are just doing better strategic planning. We have been sticking to our policing plan to make The Bahamas a safer place for Bahamians to work and play. We are really working hard to reduce crime and allay the fear of crim.”

Superintendent Dean added that more people are coming into stations as well to report gunshots going off in their respective areas and seeing firearms.

“Once we do all that we can and have the public’s support we will continue to see the kind of numbers we are experiencing,” he said.
In August, Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage said murders were down by 24 per cent this year compared to the same point in 2011.
In fact, Dr Nottage said, most serious crimes have decreased in the first six months of the year compared to last year.
According to statistics tabled in the House of Assembly by Dr Nottage, murders are down 24 per cent, robbery is down by 18 per cent, attempted robbery is down by 10 per cent, rapes are down by six per cent, attempted rapes have decreased by 56 per cent and unlawful sexual intercourse has decreased by 43 per cent.
He also said that crime for the month of July 2012 decreased compared to July 2011, seeing a significant drop in murder by 74 per cent.
According to Dr Nottage, in July 2011 there were 31 murders compared to eight in July 2012.