The police have issued their annual report on the numbers of crimes committed in the Turks and Caicos and the picture is not encouraging. The number of crimes has increased by about 50%, with robbery the crime of greatest concern. Some residents are blaming the disappointing figures on the return to elected government, with nine residents interviewed saying that the younger people committing the crimes had expected jobs and contracts that had been the hallmark of the... (GunPolicy.org)

A review and an inventory is currently being conducted by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) firearms department on the status of all persons who are in possession of a firearms licence. Strict measures will be imposed on those persons with expired licences. These measures may result in the suspension, revocation and/or the possibility of being charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and ammunition. Residents are reminded that firearms... (GunPolicy.org)

Police are in the process of "completely revising and enhancing" laws controlling the ownership of firearms and other weapons in the Turks and Caicos Islands. "The process will be also designed to regulate certain types of firearms and weapons, to help develop an appropriate legislation that prevents the misuse of firearms and to enhance public safety," police said in a statement. Police Assistant Superintendent Darron Williams has been named Chief Firearms Officer.... (GunPolicy.org)

The recent spate of shootings and armed robberies underscores the need for the Virgin Islands to take serious measures to combat gun crime. Within the past two weeks, one person has been shot to death and a handful of others have been shot or robbed at gunpoint. Such violence must be stopped. In recent years, guns have become a major problem here. From 2006-2010, firearms were used in 105 of 145 robberies and 14 of 20 murders, according to police... (GunPolicy.org)

Anyone in the Turks and Caicos Islands who possesses illegal firearms, explosives or ammunition, has until November 30th to hand them over to the police or pastors without being arrested and charged. After that date, if they are caught with guns and/or ammunition, they must appear before the Supreme Court, and, if found guilty, they will have to spend at least five years in jail. The gun amnesty and the new, tough sentencing measures were announced by Governor Gordon... (GunPolicy.org)

Almost $2m worth of guns and ammunition has been imported by Islanders in the last three years, the Weekly News can reveal. The alarming number of licensed firearms in the TCI is raising fears that the nation could be headed for the same fate as many of its trigger-happy Caribbean neighbours, plagued by spiralling gun crime. Figures — contained in the Government's external merchandise trade statistics 2008 — show that $649,467 worth of arms was brought into the... (GunPolicy.org)