Crime in Barbados

The Barbados Police Service (BPS) handles local law enforcement through its Operations Support Division, Administrative Support Division and Criminal Investigations Division. Crime Stoppers offers a separate reporting channel on (246) 429-8787. For a non-acute report, contact the nearest police station; no general reporting fee or deadline is published, and no central public online crime-reporting service was verified. The police headquarters is on Lower Roebuck Street in Bridgetown, St. Michael, and the police switchboard is (246) 430-7100. The latest consolidated official annual figures available are for 2024. Reported offences rose from 5,803 in 2022 to 6,230 in 2023 and 6,301 in 2024, an increase of 1.1 percent. Major crimes fell slightly from 1,103 in 2023 to 1,095 in 2024, while the murder category increased by 29 cases. Barbados recorded 49 murders in 2024, with 34 involving firearms, or about 69 percent. Firearm-enabled crimes increased by 20 percent and drug crimes by 12.6 percent. No consolidated official 2025 annual table or verified current parish-level hotspot map was found. Practical safety concerns include firearm violence, murder, robbery, burglary, theft and drug offences. Visitors also face opportunistic property crime, including pickpocketing, purse snatching, vehicle break-ins and burglary. Risk can rise after dark, in isolated areas, at beaches, around ATMs and during large events. Use licensed taxis, choose busy and well-lit routes, secure doors and windows, protect passports and valuables, avoid displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewellery, and verify anyone claiming to be a tradesperson or official. Do not make advance payments or accompany unknown people to a bank or ATM. If someone appears to follow you, move towards a busy place. During an armed robbery, avoid resistance, remember useful descriptions if safe and call 211 afterwards. Victims and witnesses can provide statements, support risk assessments and help preserve evidence. The Family Conflict Unit assists with domestic abuse, including physical, emotional, financial or sexual abuse and controlling, coercive or threatening conduct. Acute danger can be reported to 211 or the Crisis Hotline on 435-8222. The nearest police station can help with protection for an affected adult or child. The Family Conflict Unit operates from the Black Rock Police Station Annex in St. Michael and can be reached on 435-8222, 845-0623 or 836-5070. Its support may include information about prosecution and protection orders, an emergency protection order that usually lasts seven days and may be extended by a court, relocation, medical care, counselling and follow-up risk management. Digital crime warnings from the BPS cover WhatsApp and video-call impersonation, false cybercrime notices and attempts to steal banking details. Do not send identification, card details, banking information, passwords, PINs or security codes to someone claiming to be the police online. End the contact, report it to the BPS Digital Evidence and Cyber Crime Unit and contact your bank through a verified channel if financial information was disclosed. The Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit and Barbados Crime Observatory support school-based prevention concerning conflict, bullying, peer pressure, drug use, poor decisions, wandering and school transitions. The National Peace Programme combines school, family and community initiatives with rehabilitation, enforcement, intelligence and institutional support. The Barbados Probation Service Transitions Unit handles referrals for ages 11 to 15, while AS MAN II supports male probationers aged 17 to 26. These programmes address prevention, diversion and rehabilitation rather than assigning criminal behaviour to young people as a group.