Residents gather to see the body of a farmer who was shot dead in October 2014 in Fond St. Jacque. No one was ever arrested for the crime. A second body was also found in the area.
Statistics produced by the Royal St Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has shown a 5.5 percent increase in crime, specifically petty offences.
The Annual Crime Statistics Report 2014 stated that a total of 20,084 incidents of crime were reported to the police last year.
There were reductions in all major categories of crime including murders, with the exception of robberies.
There were 15 murders in Castries, one in Dennery, two in Anse La Raye, two in Vieux Fort, one in Choiseul, three in Gros islet, one in Micoud, two in Babonneau and two in Soufriere.
The police were able to detect 14.47 per cent of the murders committed, while 16.53 per cent remain undetected.
There were 15 murders from gunshots, 11 using sharp objects, three caused by blunt trauma and one other. Most of the people murdered were between the 31-40 age-group, followed by the 21-30 age group.
There were also 24 reported cases of unlawful sexual connection, 74 cases of indecent sexual assault, eight cases of buggery and five cases of incest recorded in 2014.
However, crime against property increased from 4,703 in 2013 to 5,337 in 2014, while summary offenses also grew from 8,105 in 2013 to 9,729 in 2014.
Further, there was a 54 per cent detection rate in firearm offences. There was also an increase in the number of recovered firearms and ammunition in 2014, compared to 2013.
Meanwhile, the police were able to detect 86 per cent of drug offences, with unlawful possession of cannabis being the highest. The police also destroyed 112,445 marijuana grown plants and 83,866 seedlings.