RCIPS ANNUAL CRIME REPORT 2025

The operating environment in which policing services are delivered is becoming increasingly complex, according to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) in its recently released 2025 review. Looking back at the past year, it says that for 2025 there were “increases in most areas of crime with the exception of acquisitive crime and firearms crime.”

Total recorded crime increased by 558 (13 per cent) compared to 2024, with increases in most areas of crime, with the exception of acquisitive crime and firearms crime. The highest numerical increase of 294 offences occurred in public order, which included causing fear or provocation of violence, and harassment, alarm or distress.

According to the RCIPS, there was a decrease in the number of incidents and calls for service in 2025, to 2,069. The five most common types of incidents responded to (excluding traffic summons and lost property) were MVA, Civil Dispute, Public/Environmental, Alarm and Person in Distress/Danger, which total 35 per cent of incidents.

At the time of its 2025 report, the RCIPS said only three per cent (3%) of crimes in 2024 remain open/active.

VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PERSON

Violence against the Person increased in 2025. This is mainly linked to higher volume but lower level harm of Common Assault and Assault ABH(actual bodily harm). Just over 40 per cent of violence-against-the-person offences were domestic-related, while 9 per cent involved a weapon, specifically a firearm or a blade.

Detection: The RCIPS said 39 per cent of these violent crimes were detected. Currently, 21 per cent remain active and subject to ongoing investigations. While 56 per cent of ‘serious’ violent crimes were detected, currently 24 per cent remain active and subject to ongoing investigations.

ACQUISITIVE CRIME

Acquisitive crime decreased in 2025, mainly linked to decreases in Burglary and Theft. Burglary decreased in 2025 by 31 per cent (66 offences) compared to 2024. Of the 144 burglary offences, there was an increase of 8 aggravated burglary offences in 2025 to a total of 9, while burglary and attempted burglary decreased.

Robbery, including attempts, increased in 2025 by 55% (22 offences) compared to 2024. Robbery was fairly evenly split between commercial and personal robbery. According to the RCIPS, there is no significant pattern or trend to personal robbery in 2025. Commercial premises are consistently targeted, often by recidivist offenders.

Detection: While 17 per cent of acquisitive crimes were detected, currently 30 per cent remain active and are subject to ongoing investigations, while 29 per cent of burglary and 42 per cent of robbery remain active.

SEXUAL OFFENCES

Sexual offences increased in 2025, mainly associated with what the RCIPS labels as “the increase in the number of defilement of a girl under twelve/sixteen offences” as well as in possession/taking/making of an indecent image of a child. Its analysis indicates that 58 per cent of the victims of all sexual offences in 2025 were children at the time of the offence, with nearly all of them being females.

Detection: 26 per cent of these types of crimes were detected. Currently, 47 per cent remain active and subject to ongoing investigations.

FIREARMS

Firearms crime reduced in 2025, down by three offences reported. These are mainly linked to discharge in a public place and unlawful use of a firearm. On the other hand, firearm-enabled crime increased by 3 offences in 2025, compared to 42 offences in 2024. The increases were mainly linked specifically to firearm-enabled robbery, where in 2025, there were multiple small series of linked offences. There was an increase of 7 firearm-enabled robbery offences in 2025 compared to 2024. At the same time, there was a significant decrease in serious violent offences involving a firearm in 2025 compared to 2024, down from 16 to 5. This was due to the decrease in firearm attempted murders from 15 in 2024 to 3 in 2025. 14 firearms were recovered in 2025, mainly related to proactive and intelligence-led policing activity, alongside our partner agencies. Four of these firearms were recovered by the Cayman Islands Customs & Border Control.

Detection: While 43 per cent of crimes in this category were detected, currently 23 per cent remain active and subject to ongoing investigations.

DRUGS

Drug offences increased in 2025. This is mainly associated with offences linked to possession of cocaine, the supply of ganja and possession of other drugs. The RCIPS review notes that there have been multiple proactive operations to target drugs, particularly related to public spaces. In 2025, the Crime Task Force recovered, as part of proactive investigations, or from the beach as wash up, 1154 kilograms, 2544 pounds of ganja, along with 66.8 kilograms or 147.3 pounds of cocaine. The estimated street value of the ganja is between CI$2,544,000 and CI$1,780,800. The estimated street value of the total cocaine recovered is between CI$801,600 and CI$334,000.

Detection: While 66 per cent of these crimes were detected, currently 29 per cent remain active and subject to ongoing investigations.

TRAFFIC

There were reductions in traffic-related summons in 2025, with 959 fewer than the previous year. The reductions are mainly linked to speeding, while there were increases in summons for some offences such as using a mobile phone whilst driving and using an unapproved piece of equipment (tint). More than half of the speeding offences (54 per cent) were vehicles recorded travelling at a speed of 50mph or higher.

There were increases in the number of Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs) (which includes Fatal MVAs) in 2025, of 151 MVAs. Only 10 per cent resulted in some form of injury, mainly minor injury. There were, however, 6 Fatal MVAs that resulted in 6 deaths in 2025, compared to 11 Fatal MVAs that resulted in 14 deaths in 2024.

PUBLIC ORDER

Public Order offences increased by 294 offences in 2025 associated with nearly all types of public order-related offences. This most significantly relates to causing fear or provocation of violence - 424 offences in total; and harassment, alarm, or distress - 250 offences in total. Around 30 per cent of offences were domestic-related.

Detection: While 39 per cent of crimes in this category were detected, currently 18 per cent remain active and subject to ongoing investigations.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

In 2025, there were 1,365 domestic violence-related referrals made to RCIPS Protective Services. This is a reduction of -422 (24 per cent). Of these 1,365 referrals, 844 became crimes, of which the main crime categories are violence against the person and public order offences, which make up 77 per cent of domestic-related crime.

Detection: Of the 844 domestic-related crimes, 48 per cent were detected, and 21 per cent remain active and subject to ongoing investigations.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING

There were 2,773 referrals for child safeguarding reported to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (M.A.S.H), an increase of 570 (26 per cent) referrals compared to 2024. Of the 2,773 referrals, 182 resulted in criminal investigations by Protective Services. A contributing factor to the rise in referrals is believed to be linked to more public awareness of mandatory reporting. Additionally, in 2025, a total of 259 National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) referrals were received. Of these, 177 cases were triaged, with 82 remaining outstanding. An ongoing demand for RCIPS is in relation to missing young persons. There is a high number of repeat missing persons who reside in Care Homes. Operation Philomena has been implemented to address repeated missing episodes.

SERIOUS & ORGANISED CRIME, DIGITAL & CYBER CRIME

During 2025, the Crime Task Force carried out several intelligence-led, proactive operations against persons known or suspected to be involved in drugs and firearms offences, including possession, supply and importation. RCIPS also works with partners to proactively target and prevent the importation of drugs and firearms. The Cyber Crime and Digital Forensic Unit said that in 2025, the focus continued on combating cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime, and online scams through improved threat identification and operational response. In 2025, the Unit provided forensic support to 285 criminal investigations, of which 47 were cyber-dependent crimes. This work involved the extraction and examination of 552 digital devices.

The Financial Crime Investigation Unit identified that the financial crime landscape is rapidly evolving and placed significant emphasis on enhancing community engagement and public trust. In 2025, it dealt with 107 investigations, of which 80 were recorded as crimes. Also, in 2025, FCIU restrained in excess of KYD $4,000,000 in physical assets as part of ongoing financial investigations.

Meanwhile, the Cayman Islands Bureau of Financial Investigation (CIBFI) reported that in 2025, domestic investigations and international cooperation enabled it to identify, trace and protect assets to the approximate value of USD $20 million. Of those assets identified, approximately USD $4 million were recovered for the benefit of either victims in Cayman or the Cayman Islands Government. In 2025, CIBFI began 8 new investigations and continued with active investigations, which currently total 25, alongside over 330 assessments or requests for assistance.