The Cayman Islands saw a 21% rise in reported sexual offences last year compared to 2023, mostly due to an increase in rape and indecent exposure incidents, police say.
The rise in such offences contributed to an increase of 7% in overall crime, according to the 2024 crime statistics released by the RCIPS at a media briefing last week.
Police noted that a third of the sex crimes investigated last year were solved, leading to a caution, charge or court summons, while 40% remain open and under “active investigation”. The remaining 27% have been closed with no charges brought.
In the annual crime and traffic statistics report, the RCIPS said, “In the majority of these offences, the offender is known to the victim.”
It added, “Analysis shows there are no patterns or series regarding stranger attacks within the islands.”
Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton told reporters at the briefing that tackling sex offences and protecting vulnerable members of the community were among the top priorities for the police service.
Domestic violence, child safeguarding referrals also on the rise
Last year saw 1,787 domestic-violence-related referrals to the RCIPS Protective Services. Of those, 1,661 were designated as crimes — mostly involving violence against a person or public order offences.
The RCIPS statistics report indicated that the police’s Family Support Unit dealt with 87 of those crimes. Of that number, 46% resulted in detection or a warning, while 10% remain active and under investigation. Another 29% were determined, after investigation, to be “non-crimes”, police said.
Throughout 2024, there were 2,203 referrals for child safeguarding reported to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, known as MASH. This was an increase of 404 cases, or 22%, over 2023.
Of those 2,203 referrals, 165 resulted in criminal investigations by Protective Services, police said, while another 40 were investigated by the wider RCIPS.
“A contributing factor to the rise in referrals is believed to be linked to more public awareness of mandatory reporting,” police said in the report.
Under the Children Act, people who work with children, such as teachers, doctors and counsellors, are required to report if they have reasonable suspicion that a child has been or is being abused or neglected.
Of the 165 incidents dealt with by the Protective Services or MASH, 33% resulted in a detection or warning, police said. Another 12% remain active.
Walton said the RCIPS was bringing in a detective chief inspector who previously worked with the London Metropolitan Police to work on detection and prevention of crimes against children and Cayman’s vulnerable population.
