The Barbados Police Service (BPS) has achieved a measurable reduction in criminal activity, reporting an overall four percent decline in crime rates alongside a significant increase in firearm seizures. Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce presented these findings at the force’s Annual Grand Conference, crediting the progress to a sophisticated intelligence-driven policing model implemented throughout 2025.
Statistical analysis reveals notable improvements across multiple crime categories: murders decreased by two percent, residential burglaries dropped seven percent, thefts from motor vehicles plunged 26 percent, and motor vehicle thefts declined three percent. This collective improvement resulted in total reported offences falling from 6,301 in 2024 to 6,063 in 2025.
The most striking achievement emerged in firearm interdiction efforts, with police seizing 84 illegal firearms and 3,339 rounds of ammunition—a substantial increase from the 71 firearms and 857 rounds confiscated the previous year. Commissioner Boyce emphasized that these results demonstrate “strengthened enforcement capabilities, improved intelligence coordination and sustained operational focus on disrupting illegal firearms trade.”
This law enforcement transformation stems from a comprehensive six-point policing strategy designed to combat rising crime while modernizing operational capacity. The commissioner noted that expanding firearm-related violence necessitated “sustained, coordinated and intelligence-driven intervention” to maintain public safety and preserve Barbados’s reputation as a secure society.
Technological advancement has been central to this evolution. The BPS has expanded deployment of body-worn cameras, dashboard cameras, and enhanced CCTV coverage to strengthen transparency and accountability. Additionally, the service is leveraging speech-to-text digital note-taking and advanced intelligence analysis to more effectively identify and target high-risk areas.
The continued development of the Police Records Management Information System (PRMIS) represents another critical component. By digitizing records and streamlining information access, PRMIS supports real-time decision-making at every operational level, from strategic command to frontline response.
Despite these gains, Commissioner Boyce acknowledged persistent challenges. Certain parishes—including St. Michael, Christ Church and St. Philip—continue to record comparatively higher crime levels. Robberies increased during the reporting period, influenced partly by youth involvement and ongoing firearm-related offences. While major crimes constitute a smaller proportion of overall reports, minor offences dominate statistics, with assaults and woundings representing 17 percent of reported crimes.
Youth intervention remains central to the service’s prevention strategy, with targeted initiatives focusing on at-risk youth aged 11 to 16. Programs like the King’s Trust International Programme provide life skills, mentorship and constructive alternatives, forming what Commissioner Boyce described as “central to our long-term crime prevention strategy.”
Road safety metrics showed improvement, with 17 road fatalities in 2025 compared to 4,472 crashes in 2024—a reduction attributed to implementing a non-attendance policy for minor non-injury collisions. This policy adjustment has enabled more efficient resource deployment toward serious road safety concerns.
The service continues to face staffing challenges, operating approximately 250 officers below full complement. Recruitment remains a priority to maintain effective frontline presence, with the BPS seeking individuals who “embody integrity, courage, discipline and respect for human rights.” In 2025, the service welcomed 47 new officers and 28 special constables, designated 271 senior constables to strengthen supervisory capacity, and transitioned 26 Special Constabulary members to police constables.
Commissioner Boyce also highlighted institutional progress through the historic appointment of Acting Deputy Commissioner Sonia Boyce as the first female to hold that office in the 191-year-old constabulary.
The commissioner concluded with a sobering assessment of global criminal threats, noting that as a small island developing state, Barbados remains exposed to “cyber-enabled offences, firearm and narcotics trafficking, human trafficking and gang activity.” This reality necessitates “deliberate and strategic” approaches combining strong enforcement with intelligence-led operations and strengthened community engagement.