Bahamas Records Significant 15% Drop in Major Crime, Murders Plummet by 31% in 2025

Historic Decline in Bahamian Crime Rates

The Bahamas has concluded 2025 with a significant reduction in crime, as reported by Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles. During a press event on January 28, 2026, Commissioner Knowles revealed that overall major crimes decreased by 15% compared to the previous year. This positive trend was highlighted by a dramatic 31% drop in murders, marking the largest percentage decline since national crime statistics began being compiled in 1963.

According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force's annual briefing, the total number of major crime cases fell from 2,825 in 2024 to 2,409 in 2025. The reduction was observed across all regions of the archipelago, with New Providence leading with a 16% decrease, followed by the Family Islands at 13%, and Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas at 8%.

Key Reductions Across Crime Categories

The report detailed substantial decreases across various crime categories:

• Murders (Homicides): Dropped from 120 incidents in 2024 to 83 in 2025, representing a 31% decrease. This figure is the lowest recorded in a comparable policing environment since 2008, which saw 73 murders. The solvency rate for homicides stood at 65%.
• Armed Robberies: Decreased by 39%, with 162 cases reported in 2025 compared to 265 in 2024.
• Crimes Against the Person: Saw a 27% reduction, falling from 696 to 509 incidents.
• Housebreakings: Fell by a notable 49%.
• Burglaries: Decreased by 28%.
• Shopbreakings: Declined by 13%.
• Sexual Offenses: Reduced by 17%, with 175 incidents in 2025 compared to 211 in 2024. Rapes specifically decreased by 18%, from 60 cases to 50. Unlawful sexual intercourse incidents, at 115, represented the lowest figure since tracking began in 1992.

Commissioner Knowles noted that several of these offenses, including armed robberies, housebreakings, and burglaries, recorded their lowest amounts on record since the force began tracking statistics in 1963.

Factors Contributing to the Decline and Future Outlook

Commissioner Knowles, who assumed her role on January 3, 2025, attributed the significant reductions to a strategic approach encompassing intelligence-led policing, increased police visibility, targeted operations, and strengthened community partnerships. She emphasized that the progress achieved in 2025 demonstrates the effectiveness of strategic, intelligence-led policing. The 2025 Policing Plan, implemented under her leadership, played a crucial role in these outcomes.

Despite the overall positive trend, the report also highlighted areas requiring continued attention. Vehicle theft saw a slight increase of 2%, rising to 398 cases, while stealing from vehicles increased by 7%. In efforts to combat crime, law enforcement seized 366 firearms and over 11,200 rounds of ammunition during the year. The majority of homicide victims, 83%, were between the ages of 18 and 45, with retaliation, gang activity, and personal conflict accounting for 43% of known motives.

Looking ahead, Commissioner Knowles affirmed the Royal Bahamas Police Force's commitment to building on these gains through its 2026 Policing Plan, which will continue to focus on disrupting firearms and drug trafficking, reducing property crime, and enhancing youth and community engagement.