RVIPF: Crime Stabilised Amid Firearms Surge
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force says overall crime held steady in 2025 after a worrying rise early in the year, but levels remain 24 percent above the five‑year average. Acting Deputy Commissioner Kenrick Davis warned that firearms and domestic violence are driving serious concerns despite falls in several offence categories.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) reports that crime levels stabilised in 2025 after officers curbed an early-year upward trend, but key threats — notably the growing use of firearms and persistent domestic violence — mean the force cannot be complacent. Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Kenrick Davis said the year began with "a concerning upward trajectory in criminal activities," but sustained, intelligence-led operations helped prevent further escalation.
Overall crime rose by just one percent compared with 2024, though Davis emphasised that "this stabilisation occurred at a level that is still 24 percent higher when compared with the five-year average." The RVIPF recorded notable reductions in several serious categories. Sexual offences fell by 40 percent, which Davis attributed to stronger public awareness and education initiatives by the police and partner agencies.
Commercial burglaries dropped by 53 percent and residential burglaries declined by 30 percent. The force also reported major drug interdictions, seizing more than 2,600 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value exceeding $260 million. Officers removed 24 firearms and 1,282 rounds of ammunition from circulation during 2025, a result Davis linked to targeted, intelligence-driven work. "We were able to stabilise the numbers and ended the year on a largely positive note," he said, while warning that those gains come amid changing criminal behaviour.
Troubling trends persisted: robberies increased by 39 percent and there were double-digit rises in property damage and minor offences. Almost half of all assaults investigated in 2025 — 49 percent — were linked to domestic violence. Davis stressed the escalation in firearm use: "In 2025, every single murder and every single attempted murder involved the use of firearms," and firearms were used in 89 percent of robberies, marking a "fundamental change in the nature of these crimes." Looking ahead, the RVIPF aims to move from stabilisation to sustained reductions across all categories.
Davis urged collective responsibility, calling on communities, businesses and residents to support reporting, prevention initiatives and police partnerships: "We must not only hold the line, we must actively reclaim the safety and peace of these beautiful Virgin Islands." For BVI residents, the report underscores the importance of reporting incidents, supporting victims of domestic violence and remaining vigilant.
Continued cooperation between the RVIPF, social services, community groups and the private sector will be essential to translate recent tactical successes into long-term improvements in public safety.
Primary source: BVI News