The TTPS is reporting a decline in murders in Trinidad and Tobago for January 2024 compared to 2023. There were 43 confirmed murders in the country in January. This translates to a 30% reduction. This was a decline from the 61 murders recorded in the same month last year and 2023 had 576 murders compared to 605 in 2022. There are several other homicides yet to be classified for 2023.
2020 saw 402 murders, 46 of which were recorded in January; 2021 saw 451 murders overall.
Most of the murders in the country are committed using firearms and Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher said taking illegal guns off the streets has been a top priority for the TTPS.
The COP reporting to the JSC National Security last Wednesday said: “As an organisation, we are focusing on providing that visibility, we are focusing on retrieving illegal firearms… Additionally, we are targeting all prolific offenders… in the population of 1.3 or 1.4 million people, we have just about 300 persons who are causing the mayhem. She also reported the TTPS did not achieve it’s eleven targets set for 2023.
The specific targets identified to be achieved by December 31, 2023, were 30% detection rate for violent crimes, 30% detection rate for homicides, 15% increase in firearm retrieval rate, 15% reduction in serious crime, 20% reduction in homicides, 20% reduction in violent crimes, 10% reduction in larceny of motor vehicles, 5% reduction in fatal road traffic accidents, 20 persons charged under the Anti-Gang Act, 40 priority (prolific) offenders arrested and charged, and 20 priority offenders successfully prosecuted.
COP Christopher however reported there was a 5% reduction in murders between 2022 and 2023, and they are working to continue this trend in reducing murders in the country.