Crime in Suriname

The Korps Politie Suriname (KPS) is Suriname’s national police service. It handles emergency responses, crime reports, investigations and prevention. Its work includes general policing, specialized policing and military policing. The Ministry of Justice and Police provides institutional oversight; the Korpschef manages police organization and administration, while the Procureur-Generaal directs crime prevention, investigation and prosecution. The Openbaar Ministerie (OM) is the public prosecution service that takes the next procedural steps after police investigations. KPS and DCIV records counted 34,504 offences nationally from 2020 through 2024. Qualified theft accounted for 14,097 cases, burglaries for 13,863, robberies for 2,996, armed hold-ups for 1,196, domestic violence for 2,146 and killings for 206. In 2024, the recorded total was 6,418 offences: 3,081 qualified theft cases, 2,256 burglaries, 554 robberies, 261 armed hold-ups, 236 domestic-violence cases and 30 killings. These figures describe police records, not the full prevalence of crime, because incidents that are never reported do not appear in them. A separate KPS Regio Paramaribo comparison for 1 January to 25 November 2025 showed lower recorded numbers than the comparison period in 2024: armed hold-ups fell from 243 to 156, robberies from 504 to 380, qualified theft from 2,881 to 2,194, burglaries from 2,102 to 1,839 and killings from 27 to 20. This was a partial regional comparison, not a national full-year trend. Reported risk patterns differ by place and activity. Paramaribo and its surroundings see risks such as pickpocketing, purse-snatching, vehicle theft, carjacking, burglary and armed robbery. Palm Garden and Palmentuin can be riskier after dark. Reports also identify elevated robbery or gang risks around Albina, Moengo, the Oost-Westverbinding, the Afobakka Highway and Para, Brokopondo and the Guyana border area. Police presence can be more limited outside Paramaribo, which may lengthen response times. Armed attacks and robbery have also been reported in coastal waters against ships and fishing boats. Call KPS at 115 for an emergency, an ongoing offence or an immediate threat. Use the police tip line at 179 for information or a tip; KPS describes this line as free. A person can also contact the nearest police post. In an armed incident, do not confront or resist the offender. Move to safety when possible and provide the police with the location, description and direction of travel afterward. There is no fully established nationwide digital reporting platform for every type of crime, and access to police services is uneven across the country. Bureau Slachtofferzorg and Mentale Ondersteuning support victims, relatives and witnesses affected by domestic violence, sexual offences and other violent crime. Its 24/7 WhatsApp number is 8413003. Documented service points include Paramaribo and Nickerie, but the support system remains fragmented and has capacity, coordination and stigma barriers. The 2026 research does not establish a dedicated women’s or children’s shelter under this service. A report to police does not automatically create a protected status, so privacy, consent and immediate safety require separate attention unless there is a life-threatening situation. The OM Slachtoffersloket can explain prosecution decisions, the court process, possible appeals and payment or compensation arrangements to victims and eligible successors. It is located at Limesgracht 92 in Paramaribo and receives registrations on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 08:00 to 12:00. Contact is available at 405570 extension 4071, WhatsApp +5977457463 or slachtofferhulpsuriname@gmail.com. Bureau Rechtszorg provides free legal advice and representation to people who can demonstrate that they cannot afford legal services. BuFaZ supports child-protection matters involving minors from 0 to 21 years. For domestic violence, protect the affected person’s privacy and seek urgent police or medical help when there is immediate danger or injury. The NRHG complaint-form concept for inadequate, delayed or incorrect police handling was still being developed in 2026 and was not yet confirmed as a final standard. The formal justice path generally moves from KPS to the OM and, where applicable, to the rechter-commissaris, but procedural deadlines and appeal rules should be checked against current official information. For suspected human trafficking, contact TIP at 400418 or by WhatsApp at 7466228 or 8763789. Anonymous reports are possible. TIP works with KPS, the OM, DNV and the Militaire Politie. Reported patterns include forced prostitution, debt bondage, restricted freedom and withholding of earnings, particularly involving foreign women and girls. Shelter and further assistance exist, but their reach and resources are limited. Online crime commonly involves Facebook or WhatsApp sales scams, false bank-transfer screenshots or PDFs, cryptocurrency investment scams, money-mule recruitment and hacked accounts or identity misuse. Report fraud to the nearest police post or the KPS fraud service. Preserve chats, screenshots, account names, telephone numbers, false payment records and relevant bank details. Check whether money has actually arrived in your own banking application before handing over goods. SUR-CSIRT and CSIRT-DNV provide cybersecurity and incident-response functions, but their current public contact channel should be verified before use. Everyday precautions include keeping jewellery, cash and passports out of sight; locking vehicle doors and windows; removing valuables from parked cars; using licensed taxis or hotel stands; agreeing the fare before departure; avoiding isolated places and large demonstrations; and planning transport and communication for journeys into the interior, border areas or coastal waters. Established maritime providers and a clear emergency plan reduce exposure during boat or fishing trips.