In a landmark achievement for national security, Trinidad and Tobago recorded its lowest homicide rate in over fifteen years during 2025, with official statistics confirming 369 murders—a dramatic 42% reduction from the previous year’s tally of 626. Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro has emphatically attributed this historic decline to sophisticated intelligence-gathering methodologies and dedicated police work rather than the controversial State of Emergency (SoE) measures implemented throughout much of the year.
Commissioner Guevarro, communicating via WhatsApp messages on January 2, emphasized that this breakthrough represents “a significant national achievement” reflecting “sustained, intelligence-driven policing, stronger divisional accountability and a co-ordinated national effort across the police service.” The Commissioner’s statements directly counter public commentary suggesting the crime reduction resulted primarily from emergency powers.
The TTPS leadership maintains that strategic precision-targeting of violent offenders, gang leadership, and firearm traffickers—supported by Preventative Detention Orders and intensified operations—drove the measurable improvements in public safety. Notably, Commissioner Guevarro highlighted that previous SoEs during 2020-2022 pandemic years, which included strict curfews and movement restrictions, failed to produce comparable crime reduction, further substantiating his assessment that tactical policing effectiveness rather than emergency measures accounted for the 2025 success.
Addressing concerns about a potential crime surge following the SoE’s scheduled expiration on January 31, Commissioner Guevarro expressed confidence in the sustainability of these gains, noting that “many of the strategies implemented are not SoE-dependent.” The TTPS has substantially strengthened its intelligence architecture, improved inter-divisional coordination, and enhanced capabilities to identify, track, and disrupt high-risk individuals—developments that will persist beyond the emergency framework.
Supporting this operational assessment, Deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin detailed significant organizational reforms implemented throughout 2025, including the adoption of emotional intelligence principles and flexible 24/48-hour rotation schedules designed to combat officer burnout while maintaining operational tempo. The service has prioritized mental health support through its Social Work Unit and maintained vacation leave provisions despite heightened operational demands.
While December witnessed an concerning uptick with approximately 37 murders, the year still concluded with the lowest annual total since 2011. The TTPS executive leadership acknowledges the tremendous operational load carried by officers over the past eight months and has committed to continuing targeted enforcement, offender management, and intelligence operations throughout 2026 to maintain the downward trajectory in serious crimes.