The United States Department of State has once again rated the crime threat in New Providence as "critical".
"While there has been a very slight reduction in some crime classifications reported in 2014 by the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), violent crime remains above the 2013 level," said The Bahamas 2015 Crime and Safety Report, which was released yesterday.
"New Providence island has sustained remarkably high levels of violent, armed crimes. The RBPF continued enforcing particularly dynamic policing methods, which included indiscriminate armed-checkpoints and a crime reduction plan in tourist areas.
"The majority of violent crimes reported were perpetrated against local Bahamians, and these occurred in areas of inundated criminality not typically frequented by tourists.
"Nevertheless, despite arduous government anti-crime incentives, during the past several months, New Providence has witnessed a significant increase of violent armed crimes in locations heavily patronized by U.S. citizens. In many instances, these incidents have resulted in fatalities."
In January, Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade revealed that crime in The Bahamas decreased by 18 percent in 2014. However, murder, attempted murder and attempted attempted robbery increased last year. Police recorded 123 murders in 2014 compared to 119 in 2013. The U.S. report said that while there is no evidence to suggest that U.S. citizens were directly targeted, criminals were "more brazen and creative in their methods".
"For example, three armed robberies of U.S. citizens occurred in daylight hours in heavily frequented tourist areas, including an armed assailant assaulting and robbing a woman walking near Ardastra Gardens," the report said. It added, "Three embassy employees were injured in robberies. A member of the U.S. military was injured during an altercation at a popular lounge and restaurant heavily frequented by tourists."
The report said that crime in Grand Bahama has also increased, notably crimes involving the use of machetes.
"In 2014, there was an increase of reported armed robberies using a knife and gun where the assailant assaulted the victim after the victim fought back and resisted," the report said. "Many of these armed robberies were snatch-and-grabs involving purses, jewelry, and gold necklaces or home invasions."
The report noted that the U.S. Embassy in Nassau has received an increase of reports of assaults, including sexual assaults at residents, hotel rooms, casinos, outside hotels and on cruise ships.
"In some sexual assault incidents, the victim had reportedly been drugged. As a result, the embassy has issued five security messages for 2014," the report said.
According to police statistics, rape decreased by 29 percent, from 105 to 75 in 2014; attempted rape dropped by 45 percent, from 22 to 12 and unlawful sexual intercourse dropped by 33 percent, from 165 to 111. In last year's report, The Bahamas' crime rate was rated as high, noting that New Providence had "continued to experience escalated levels of violent crime".
Prime Minister Perry Christie has continuously lamented the high crime rate in The Bahamas. In a recent interview he said it continuously to be one of the most vexing issues plaguing the country.
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