Press Release, Belmopan, December 30, 2024. The year 2024 was truly a challenging year for us as we navigated our policing plans through turbulent waters. However, the positive interventions and alterations in our plans enabled us to ride out those waves successfully. Now that the year is coming to its culmination, we can look back at our achievements with pride.
During the year in review, we decentralized our policing services in Dangriga, San Ignacio and Santa Elena Towns as well as expanded our operational presence in the Northern Districts along the irregular border crossing areas. Our operation in the north was a response to prevent the flood of illegal activities of the Mexican Cartels and their local counterparts, who wanted to capitalize on our country’s vulnerability. To maintain the internal stability of our country, we carried out a number of operations targeting known criminals, gang members, firearms, drugs, human traffickers and smugglers, which resulted in the seizure of large numbers of firearms, ammunitions and drugs, and the arrest of a number of persons.
We pledged to enhance our initiatives to ensure that our achievements in 2024 would surpass those of 2023. This year reducing the number of major crimes from 1,074 in 2023 was our main priority, and I can proudly report that overall major crime dropped from 1,074 to 910 or 15.3% in 2024. While we celebrate this great achievement, we are disappointed about the 89 murders this year even though it is the second lowest murder count going back 19 years.
Notwithstanding this, we are grateful for the committed efforts of our commanders who were tasked with leading the implementation of our policing plans and their resilient officers who worked tirelessly to overcome the challenges ensuring our success: a testimony to the rewards of committed teamwork. Thanks for your support.
Now that 2025 is upon us, I am reiterating that the Belize Police Department will remain resolved to working with all stakeholders to keep crime at an acceptable level. During the coming year, we will continue to decentralize our services in San Ignacio Town with the construction of a new police station in Kontiki Area and in Orange Walk Town with the construction of a police station in Trial Farm Area.
The CABEI Program will also continue to roll out, and we will see the refurbishing and construction of new police stations across the country, designed to help boost the moral and welfare of our officers. We will continue to push our citizens’ advisor committees to advocate for greater police services across the country. Our Road Policing Unit targeting traffickers and smugglers: drugs, human and firearms/ammunition will officially be launched in January 2025. This unit will help to make our highways safer for all users. Also, we will embark on a robust volunteer Special Constable Program to assist the police in maintaining order in key areas. Our traffic police officers across the country will be working in tandem with national traffic and municipal traffic in the strict enforcement of traffic laws and regulations to reduce road traffic fatalities. Finally, we will continue to work
with LIU and other organizations to provide viable opportunities for those gang members who are committed to become productive members of society.
“Alone we can do so little: together we can do so much.” Helen Keller. We all want a safer Belize, so we must pledge to work together to achieve it. Therefore, we, The Belize Police Department, call upon all to work with us in keeping our country safe for all our residents and visitors. As you prepare to welcome the New Year, let us do so with peace, love and the blessings of God in our hearts. Let us be the example of what we would want to see in 2025. Happy New Year Belize!
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