37% reduction in sexual offences this year- Acting CoP Vanterpool

BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- The Virgin Islands (VI) has experienced a 37 percent reduction in sexual offences so far this year.

This information was disclosed by Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool during the "Talking Points" programme aired live on ZBVI 780 AM and Facebook on Monday, July 14, 2025.

"We have seen a reduction in domestic violence cases. The good news is we have achieved several successes, with sexual offences dropping by 37 percent. This statistic is accurate; one of the factors we monitor is the number of individuals who come forward to report these crimes. Over the last couple of years, many people have been reporting these types of crimes, allowing us to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators," Vanterpool stated.

She explained that this reduction can be attributed to the dedication of officers in the Family and Juvenile Department, who go above and beyond to ensure that case files are prepared promptly for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and subsequently to court for prosecution.