Belize Sees 22% Rise in Murders in First Half of 2024, Prompting SOE Extension

Belize saw more than fifty murders between January and June, according to the latest statistics from the Belize Crime Observatory. There were 57 murders total for the first six months of the year, a 22 percent increase compared to 2023. Fifty of the murder victims were male while the remaining seven were female. The majority of the victims were between the ages of 30-49 years old. Notably, the Belize District recorded the most murders out of the six districts with 31 homicides. The Crime Observatory notes that 81 percent of the murders were committed with a firearm. The month of March is the year’s most violent month, so far, with 14 murders. Back in May when the murder count was at 41, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams stressed that police were doing all that they could to address the issue and appealed to the public to assist police by sharing information and making reports if their lives were threatened. However, on June 24, the situation had worsened prompting a State of Emergency Declaration for portions of Belize City and the Cayo district. At the meeting of the Senate earlier this week, the SOE was extended for another two months, to end on September 24.