Introduction
This summary interim crime report aims to provide an overview of the crime statistics for the first 5 months of 2020 from Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS). This date range has been selected due to the unique conditions created by the Covid 19 pandemic and the subsequent actions taken in response to the threats posed by Covid 19. The purpose is to provide communities and the government with meaningful and accurate information to allow for understanding and to assist in determining priorities for public safety so the Cayman Islands remains a safe place to live, work and visit.

Covid Restrictions
The Covid pandemic has had a direct impact on the volumes and types of criminality on the Cayman Islands. Covid restrictions were introduced on the Cayman Islands on the 23rd of March 2020, and at time of publication remain in place, albeit subject to a general easing of restrictions over recent weeks. To fully understand the impact the Covid pandemic has had on crime, there are key timeframes that require to be considered:

1. Total crime since the start of the year – January 1st – May 31st

2. Total crime outside of the Covid restrictions timeframe – January 1st – March 22nd

3. Total crime within the Covid restrictions timeframe – March 23rd – May 31st

Throughout this document, sections will be broken down in line with the above timeframes.

This document will not include Covid specific offences for breaches of hard curfew or tickets issued for breaches of soft curfew. The document seeks to be a like for like comparison to 2019.

Data Collection and Interpretation
All crime statistics are taken from the RCIPS Records Management System and should be interpreted with the following considerations:
 Incidents or Calls for Service are recorded by RCIPS. An Incident could be any occurrence in a single event, this includes unconfirmed crimes, suspicious activity, medical emergencies, search and rescue, alarm calls and others. These incidents can be recorded from the public calling 911, non-emergency calls to police stations, in person reports by the public to officers or at police stations and officer initiated reporting during their tour of duty.
 A crime is defined as an illegal/reckless act or activity for which a person can be punished by law. While an incident is any single event which is reported/recorded by RCIPS. Not all incidents are crimes.

 Statistical data in this document pertaining to crime data is based on substantiated primary crimes only1, if there is insufficient evidence to confirm a crime occurred it remains an incident.
 Total Recorded Crime has been grouped into appropriate categories based on the type of crimes, the key categories are: Violence against the Person, Sexual Offences, Drug Crime, Firearms Crime, Acquisitive Crime, Public Order and Other Crime.
Incidents/Calls for Service

1. 1st of January 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 15172 incidents/calls for service. This is an increase of 661 (+4.5%) compared to the same period in 2019.
2. 1st of January 2020 – 22nd March 2020 there were 8286 incidents/calls for service. This is an increase of 298 (+3.7%) compared to the same period for 2019.
3. 23rd of March 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 6886 incidents/call for service. This is an increase of 360 (+5.5%) compared to the same period for 2019.

Key Finding – The volume of incidents/calls for service has increased by 5.5% over the Covid period compared to same period in 2019.

The main changes in the types of incidents/calls for services are shown in the table below2:

The key changes in incidents/calls for service over the course of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, show the impact from Covid restrictions:

Incidents/calls for service specifically related to crime for example Theft have reduced substantially.

Incidents/calls for service specifically related to Covid are included in 2020 where there were no such calls in 2019.

There has also been a substantial increase in the number of incidents/calls for service related to Public/Environment issues.

A dip sample of Public/Environment incidents/calls for service in 2020, showed that they were largely related to Covid albeit indirectly:
 The public called the police when they are unable to obtain services to resolve concerns, for example a bees nest or rubble on the road.
 The public called the police because in a significant number of cases they were confined to their homes for long periods and were very sensitive to activity in and around their property. For example, persons using communal equipment in a strata to obtain fruit from the trees.

Total Recorded Crime

It should be noted that approximately 10% of incidents/calls for service reported to RCIPS in 2020 have been recorded as crimes.

1. 1st of January 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 1588 crimes recorded in the Cayman Islands. This is a reduction of 214 (-11.9%) compared to the same period in 2019.
2. 1st of January 2020 – 22nd March 2020 there were 986 crimes recorded in the Cayman Islands. This is an increase of 128 (+14.5%) compared to the same period in 2019.
3. 23rd of March 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 602 crimes recorded in the Cayman Islands. This is a reduction of 290 (-30.9%) compared to the same period in 2019.

Key Findings – In the first 3 months of 2020 there were substantial increases in total recorded crime compared to the same period for 2019. Since Covid restrictions were introduced total recorded crime has reduced by a nearly a third.

It is inferred that without the unique conditions associated with Covid, overall crime would have increased to date in 2020 compared to 2019.

Due to the restrictions as part of the response to Covid, the opportunities for offenders to commit crime have been reduced.

Violence against the Person

1. 1st of January 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 376 crime of violence recorded, compared to 400 for the same period in 2019. This equates to a reduction of 24 (-6%).
2. 1st of January 2020 – 22nd of March 2020 there were 226 crime of violence recorded, compared to 208 for the same period in 2019. This equates to an increase of 18 (+8%)
3. 23rd of March 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 143 crimes of violence recorded, compared to 192 for the same period in 2019. This equates to a reduction of 42 (-22%)

Key Findings – In the first 3 months of 2020 violence against the person was increasing. Over the period of the Covid restrictions it has reduced by 27.2% compared to the same period for 2019.

Sexual Crimes

1. 1st of January 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 34 sexual crimes recorded, compared to 39 for the same period in 2019. This equates to a reduction of 5 (13%)
2. 1st of January 2020 – 22nd March 2020 there were 22 sexual crimes recorded, compared to 23 for the same period in 2019. This equates to a reduction of 1 (-4%)
3. 23rd of March 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 12 sexual crimes recorded, compared to 16 for the same period in 2019. This equates to a reduction of 4 (-25%)

Key Finding – The volume of sexual crimes has reduced in 2020 compared to the same period for 2019. Covid restrictions have had a noticeable impact on the volume of sexual crimes.

Firearms

1. 1st of January 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 6 firearms crimes recorded, compared to 10 for the same period in 2019. This equates to a reduction of 4 (-40%).
2. 1st of January 2020 – 22nd of March 2020 there were 4 firearm crimes recorded, compared to 4 for the same period in 2019. The volumes of firearm crimes have remained the same over this period.
3. 23rd of March 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 2 firearm crime recorded, compared to 6 for the same period in 2019. This equates to a reduction of 4 (-67%)

Key Finding – The volume of firearms crimes has reduced consistently since the start of 2020, including the period of Covid restrictions.
Drugs

1. 1st of January 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 73 drug crimes recorded, compared to 68 for the same period in 2019. This equates to an increase of 5 (+7%).
2. 1st of January 2020 – 22nd March 2020 there were 49 drug crimes recorded, compared to 30 for the same period in 2019. This equates to an increase of 19 (+63%).
3. 23rd of March 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 24 drug crimes recorded, compared to 38 for the same period in 2019. This equates to a reduction of 14 (-37%).

Key Findings – Drug crimes were increasing substantially at the start of the year but over the Covid period have then noticeably reduced. During the Covid period drug crimes related to Consumption/Possession of Ganja and Cocaine have reduced substantially. It is inferred that the restrictions on movement outside of the home, coupled with the closure of the night time economy have resulted in less visible signs of drug consumption.

Acquisitive Crime (Burglary, Criminal Trespass, Robbery and Theft)

1. 1st of January 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 401 acquisitive crimes recorded, compared to 572 for the same period in 2019. This equates to a reduction of 173 (-30%). 2. 1st of January 2020 – 22nd March 2020 there were 268 acquisitive crimes recorded, compared to 268 for the same period in 2019. Levels of acquisitive crime for the first 3
   months of 2020 were exactly the same as the same period for 2019. 3. 23rd of March 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 133 acquisitive crimes recorded, compared to 304 for the same period in 2019. This equates to a reduction of 132 (-56%).

Key Findings – During the first 3 months of the 2020 levels of acquisitive crime were stable compared to the same period in 2019. Covid restrictions have had a considerable impact on the volume of acquisitive crime, with volumes reducing by 56% compared to same period in 2019.

It is inferred that the volume of acquisitive crimes would have remained at similar levels to 2019 had it not been for the Covid restrictions.

Public Order

1. 1st of January 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 389 public order crimes recorded, compared to 360 for the same period in 2019. This equates to an increase of 29 (+8%).
2. 1st of January 2020 – 22nd March 2020 there were 235 public order crimes recorded, compared to 202 for the same period in 2019. This equates to an increase of 33 (+16%).
3. 23rd of March 2020 – 31st of May 2020 there were 154 public order crimes recorded, compared to 158 for the same period in 2019. This equates to a reduction of 5 (-4%).

Key Findings – During the first 3 months of 2020 levels of public order crime increased noticeably by 17% compared to the same period for 2019. Covid restrictions have had a minor impact on the levels of public order crime and it remains 8% higher in 2020 compared to 2019.

The key areas of Public Order crime where there have been increases in 2020 are Intentional Harassment (+8), Harassment Alarm or Distress (+11) and Threat to Kill, Cause Serious Harm or Damage Property (+26). This is inferred to be local disputes between neighbours exacerbated by the Covid restrictions. At the same time there has been a marked reduction in Drunk and Disorderly Persons (-10) linked to the shutdown of the night time economy over the Covid period.

To read the full report with TABLES it can be viewed at the link: 2020 Statistical Report Jan 1st – May 31st 2020