By Seedy Jobe
Crime in The Gambia declined by 7.29 percent during the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year, Inspector General of Police Seedy Mukhtar Touray said on Wednesday, citing official national crime statistics.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services’ monthly press briefing at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, Touray said the figures reflect the country’s continued efforts to maintain public safety despite recent high-profile violent crimes.
He said The Gambia remains among the world’s most peaceful countries, ranking 56th globally, fourth in Africa, and first in West Africa on the Global Peace Index.
Touray also addressed a series of recent alleged murders that have heightened public concern, including the deaths of Yunus Mbye in Fajara, Mr. Sarr in Wellingara, David Beyai at St. Charles Lwanga Church in Faji Kunda, Mai Dem of Manjai Kunda and Ebrima Njie of Latrikunda Germany.
He said the incidents could have been prevented had property owners and operators taken adequate security precautions, particularly in private premises and public entertainment venues. Touray added that all suspects linked to the cases are in police custody and will be brought before the courts.
The police chief said the Gambia Police Force is increasingly relying on crime data to guide deployments and operations amid limited resources. Between June 5 and June 28, he said, joint security patrols conducted across the Kanifing Municipality and the West Coast Region led to the arrest of 615 people, with several cases already before the courts.
Touray said community policing remains a central part of the force’s crime prevention strategy, with officers engaging residents and schools to promote public safety and encourage the timely reporting of suspicious activities.
“Through community policing initiatives, we are engaging with the public and schools to share crime prevention tips and better understand your security needs to help us plan better for the future,” he said.
Acknowledging the difficulty of preventing crimes that occur in domestic settings, bars, motels, nightclubs, and other private premises, Touray urged business owners to strengthen security by screening patrons for weapons and employing trained security personnel.
“We will spare no effort to prevent crime. Where prevention is impossible, we will detect, apprehend, and duly prosecute offenders,” he said.
He said the police, working alongside other security agencies and the judiciary, remain committed to safeguarding lives and property across the country.
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