As regular readers know, I try to compile and post stats on murders (homicides) in Barbados at the end of every month. Sometimes I manage to stick to the monthly schedule, other times I do not due to other commitments. These posts started back in 2017 and over the years have included various details relating to homicides such as age, gender, parish, how the person died, time of day, day of the week and murder maps of the island. The source data of my posts originate from media reports of homicides. They are not official homicide statistics.
In addition to the monthly reports, I previously developed and launched an on-line murder database where visitors could access canned database reports and obtain the latest results rather than waiting on the monthly blog posts. The database was disabled and remained offline for several months. Recently, I have re-created it and re-launched it as the ‘Barbados Homicide Database.’ At present, I am inputting data going back as far as 2017 (currently at 2020). Visitors can explore the database by filtering results using drop down boxes based on year, gender, parish, month and how, or a combination of these options.
Why do all of this? Making murder statistics publicly available serves several crucial purposes:
Transparency: Providing access to crime data ensures that the public can see what is happening in their communities. This transparency builds trust between law enforcement, government agencies, and the public.
Awareness: Public access to crime statistics raises awareness about the prevalence and nature of violent crime. An informed public is better equipped to take precautions and advocate for necessary changes.
Policy Development: Accurate and timely crime data is essential for policymakers and law enforcement agencies. It helps in crafting effective strategies for crime prevention and resource allocation.
Community Engagement: When people have access to detailed crime data, they are more likely to engage in community safety initiatives. Public involvement is a key component in creating safer environments.
Research and Analysis: Researchers and analysts rely on comprehensive crime data to study trends, identify causes, and propose solutions. Public access to this data enhances the quality and scope of academic and practical research.
My monthly homicide posts and homicide database are tools designed to keep the public informed and engaged. By providing detailed and accurate data (as accurate as the media reports that they are based on), I hope to contribute in a small way to a safer and more aware community in Barbados. Transparency, awareness, and informed decision-making are crucial in the fight against violent crime, and I am committed to supporting these goals through my work.
Stay tuned for our monthly reports and feel free to explore the real-time database for the latest information on homicides statistics in Barbados by visiting https://data.caribbeansignal.com/.