Is Crime Coming Down or Going Up?

As society changes over time, different crimes change in prevalence. Overall crime in Bermuda peaked in summer 2018, and hasn’t reached these levels since. However, not every crime has become less common since then. Read on for a look at current crime patterns in Bermuda.

Falling crimes

Property crime has been very prominent in Bermuda, but statistics show that it’s becoming less common. The majority of thefts happen in less populated areas, so avoiding these areas can help to reduce the risk of falling victim to thieves. Nowadays, the petty theft rate is less than half of what it was in 2009.

Rising crimes

Anti-social behaviour

Anti-social behaviour had been steadily rising until 2020, but the pandemic greatly increased this rate. Crimes disobeying lockdown such as group gatherings, not wearing a mask and being out past curfew are all under the umbrella of anti-social behaviour, causing these statistics to skyrocket.

Now that the lockdown has long since passed, these activities are no longer illegal, reducing the number of anti-social crimes that people could be arrested for. Despite this, anti-social crimes have continued to increase.

Gang violence

A relatively fresh issue for Bermuda, gang violence has shot up in recent years. The Gang Violence Reduction Team was only formed in 2017, but they know of at least 9 operational gangs. Gang activity brings with it a host of other crimes, and the majority of firearms incidents can be linked to gang activity. Even young children can be swept up into this kind of dangerous activity, so its impact is incredibly widespread.

Intentional homicide

Gang violence also fuels the high murder rate. In 2022, there were 160 open murder cases, overwhelming detectives. There were 48 murders between 2006 and 2017, and police suspect that gang presence may have something to do with the 33 unsolved murders in the last 20 years. While this number can be concerning, the risk to the general population is low when you consider the involvement of gangs.

Road traffic accidents

At the start of 2024, between four and six collisions were reported every day. Driving while impaired is also trending upwards, despite being one of the most preventable road traffic incidents.

Tourists feed these numbers, as many are unaccustomed to navigating the narrow streets. Police are increasing traffic enforcement efforts in order to address the frequency of accidents. Drivers should be especially careful when driving unknown roads, and never drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Help tackle crime by reporting it

Police can only deal with crime if they know it’s happening. By reporting crime, you are helping to reduce it.

Crime Stoppers Bermuda is a registered charity that allows you to report crime anonymously. Information you give us is compiled into an anonymous report and given directly to the police, protecting both our community and your identity.

If your information leads to an arrest, you may even be eligible for a reward.

Call 800-8477 or use our online form today.