St Kitts and Nevis reports 43% rate of crime detection, says PM Harris

Basseterre: In 2021, law enforcement in St. Kitts and Nevis reported a 43 percent increase in the rate of detected crime, the greatest in the last 20 years. The internationally recognised percentage of criminal detection is 33%.

Dr Timothy Harris, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, announced the news at his first press conference of the year on Thursday (February 10, 2022). He claims that the statistic is an improvement over the detection rates of 40 percent and 39.3 percent in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

In addition, there were 13 homicides in 2021, according to the report. A record number of 35 killings were registered ten years ago (2011).

“Through intelligence-led proactive policing and improved community policing, the Police will strive to lower this statistic to single digits in the near future,” Dr. Harris remarked. “The effective implementation of programmes in support of our Alternative Lifestyle Pathway Program, the Explorers Club, and greater usage of resources like our CCTV surveillance system and Forensic Lab will complement our efforts in maintaining large crime decreases.”

The Ministry of National Security has been given $80.1 million to cover its expenses in the fiscal year 2022.