The Belize Police Department has cited a marginal reduction in major crimes, especially murders, when looking at it on a national level. Commissioner of Police (COMPOL) Chester Williams went into detail on the crime statistics for 2019 on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. First and foremost, murders in the country are the lowest that they have been for the prior four years. In 2019, there were a total of 134 murders, nine less than the 143 recorded murders in 2018. According to COMPOL Williams, the causes of murders rank in order: alcohol, drugs, gang activity, and domestic violence. One surprising statistic that the COMPOL noted was that there were less major crimes reported in urban areas (cities and towns) and more recorded in rural communities when comparing 2019 to 2018. This, he says, poses a challenge to policing efforts and requires the addition of composite patrols in these remote communities where crimes are becoming prevalent.
In the Belize district, there was a decrease of 17% in murders, a number which could have been higher, according to COMPOL Williams, if there was not an increase in rural Belize. For example, there was over a 100% increase in murders in the Ladyville community. He says this may be due to the abundance of nightclubs, robberies, drug deals, and gang activity in the community. In Belize City itself, however, the COMPOL cited a significant decrease in gang activity when comparing it to previous years. Other major crimes in Belize City, including robbery and theft, has seen a decrease of 134%. Belize City itself has seen its lowest number of murders since 2015. Considering these decreases, COMPOL Williams says that Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alden Dawson will be tasked with sharing his strategies with the other regions in the country.
The Commissioner also spoke about crimes being inflicted against women and children. He says that there has been a decrease in gender related crimes and crimes committed against children. However, the crimes that have been committed against women in 2019 can mostly be allotted to domestic violence. Of the 134 murders committed, eighty-nine were committed with firearms, nineteen with knives, and seventeen with machetes. There has already been a meeting with gun dealers across the country to implement gun control measures which were to take effect on January 1, 2020. To curb crimes committed with knives, machetes, blades, or other edged tools, there will be an enforcement of the already existing legislation. That legislation specifies that persons cannot be in possession of edged tools between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. The Commissioner also added that persons found near liquor establishments with any edged tool can be charged.
In Northern Belize, the Orange Walk and Corozal districts, there was a 3% increase in major crimes while murders remain fairly the same. In the west, in the Cayo District, there was a 6% increase in murders but a decrease in other major crimes. In Southern Belize, the Stann Creek and Toledo districts, there was a 25% increase in murders but, like the other regions, there was also a decrease in other major crimes.
There was an increase in sex crimes in the country and, specifically, there was a 66% increase in unlawful sexual activity. Rape also saw an increase, but the Commissioner says that these crimes are significantly more difficult for police. While the specific number of missing persons have not yet been shared, the BPD does concede that there are still a number of persons missing. However, these persons cannot be pursued indefinitely and under law, once a person is missing more than seven years, the family can apply for a presumption of death certificate. Once sufficient evidence is provided, the certificate is issued and the family can then legally distribute estate. In the case of missing foreigners, the Commissioner says that it is often the case that they have simply returned to their country.
