With overall crime up by 13 percent this year, gun violence has emerged as a primary concern in the Virgin Islands, according to Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Kenrick Davis. He said this issue, alongside a surge in domestic violence, will be central topics at the upcoming inaugural Virgin Islands Anti-Crime Summit, scheduled for 24–26 September 2025.
In a statement, Davis revealed that between January and July this year, police have recovered 16 illegal firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
“We don’t make guns, we don’t make bullets, but so much of it is around. Then it is a serious cause of concern,” Davis said. “This indicates that there is a gun problem in the Virgin Islands.”
He noted that the proliferation of firearms has contributed to robberies, burglaries, and murders—crimes that heighten public fear and fuel the perception that crime is spiralling. Recalling earlier years when the Territory could go two years without a murder, Davis said the current trend now averages at least one murder annually.
While gun violence garners much attention, domestic-related crimes have climbed even faster, rising 21 percent in the same period. Davis warned that this trend shows the Virgin Islands is not as safe as it was two or three decades ago, but stressed it is not too late to reverse course.
“We should all be concerned about crimes increasing and certain crimes becoming a permanent part of our social reality,” he said. “I think crime is on the rise, but it is not at a stage where it is out of control. We need to take action now to ensure it doesn’t get to that level.”
The Anti-Crime Summit—organised by the National Security Council under the theme “Our Virgin Islands: Safe Communities, Prosperous Territory”—aims to spark a national conversation on crime. The event will bring together government officials, non-governmental organisations, the business sector, community groups, churches, and students for panel discussions, working sessions, and other activities.
The public is invited to attend:
Wednesday, 24 Sept, 5:00 p.m. – Opening session and national conversation on crime
Thursday, 25 Sept, 9:00 a.m. – Cross-sector meetings with government, non-profits, and civil society
Friday, 26 Sept – Youth day, featuring students from schools across the Territory proposing crime-reduction solutions
Organisers hope the summit will build consensus on strategies to combat crime, mobilise community action, and lay the groundwork for a comprehensive National Crime Reduction Strategy.