CENTRAL DETECTIVE UNIT
NORTHERN BAHAMAS REGION
The year 2004 was certainly a challenging one for Grand Bahama and the entire Northern Region. The devastation brought to the region by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne won’t be forgotten by Bahamians, and in particular the Northern Region. Although the region was devastated, strategies implemented by the Uniform Branch and the Central Detective Unit, kept looting and other serious crimes at an all time low.
The year 2004 saw a decline in Serious Crime in Grand Bahama and the Northern Region. The region recorded a total of eleven (11) murders. Ten (10) in Grand Bahama and one (1) in Abaco. Compared to fifteen (15) during 2003. These murders, I must add are not random acts of killings. Our investigations have discovered that in all of the nine (9) solved murders in 2004, all of the murder victims knew their killer(s). The Central Detective Unit is aggressively pursuing the remaining two (2) matters. Our investigations into these remaining murders are also suggesting that the victims knew their killers. We expect to conclude these matters soon. We are aggressively pursuing those matters of previous years with a view of bringing closure to them.
We are closely monitoring a very disturbing trend that we are seeing in Grand Bahama, with respect to murders. We have seen in a number of the murders in Grand Bahama, where one or two individuals would actually commit the act of murder or attempted murder. On instructions from the person/s committing that act, others are appearing at the crime scene and disposing of the dead or injured person at another location, miles away from the crime scene. This certainly adds further complications to the investigations. We are hoping for a speedy review of legislation in this regard.
There has been a notable decline in armed robberies in Grand Bahama, for the year 2004, with a total of forty-seven (47), compared to sixty-four (64) for the same period 2003. The decline we feel was due to covert operations by Detectives and overt operations by both uniform and plain-clothes officers.
Rape in Grand Bahama and the Northern Region Office was down by 50%, with a total of nine (9) reported matters in 2004, and eighteen (18) in 2003. Of concern to the Region, is the high level of incidents of Unlawful Sexual Intercourse, involving schoolgirls between the ages of 13-15 years, with older men. This trend is seen both in the public and private schools. A total of thirty-three (33) were reported in 2003 and twenty-eight in 2004.
The deportation of Bahamians and Haitian-Bahamians from the United States is a growing challenge in Grand Bahama. These high-class criminals, after learning all the tricks of the trade, upon their release from the United States Prisons, are deported to Grand Bahama or elsewhere in the Bahamas. Once in Grand Bahama, these individuals quickly re-establish their criminal network, engaging in drugs and firearms trafficking, armed robberies, murder, and other forms of corruption. These operations are being closely monitored by the police in Grand Bahama.
During 2004, white-collar crimes have shown a remarkable decrease. In the same light, the proliferation of Bahamian counterfeit currency has shown the highest growth in four years, with a total of $30,000.00 seize counterfeit notes. It is believed that a large number of these notes are produced in Freeport. We are actively pursuing intelligence to determine the exact source.
FIREARMS SEIZED
A total of twenty-seven (27) unlicensed firearms were seized in Grand Bahama for the year 2004, compared to seventeen (17) for 2003. Three hundred and seventy-four (374) rounds of ammunition were seized compared to two hundred and sixty-seven (267) in 2003.
HOUSE BREAKINGS
A total of three hundred and forty-seven (347), house breakings were reported in 2004, compared to five hundred-one (501) in 2003.
SHOP BREAKINGS
A total of two hundred and ninety-nine (299) shop breakings were reported in 2004, compared to two hundred and seventy-seven (277) in 2003.
The Central Detective Unit will continue to monitor developing crime trends. We will work closely with the uniform branch and other allied agencies in putting strategies in place for the timely prevention and detection of crime.
