Citizens question official figures on homicide reduction in 2026: Where have they gone down?

Santo Domingo.- Despite the government's assertion that the homicide rate in the Dominican Republic remains at historically low levels, citizens question the official figures and the reality experienced in the country's vulnerable neighborhoods and areas. Citizens consulted by De Último Minuto expressed discontent with the statements offered today by the Minister of Interior and Police, Faride Raful, who explained that the accumulated homicide rate stands at 7.08 per 100,000 inhabitants, with 25 provinces in a single digit and nine territories above that level.

"But where have they gone down? With the harassment that she has towards the people, there are more problems, homicides and crime. And she is only saying and removing speakers. We are fed up with Faride," highlighted Rey Vargas.

On the other hand, a consulted person highlighted that the perception of crime levels "are the same or worse than before", due to the lack of quality public policies that reduce crime from the root. According to official data, 55 homicides have been recorded in the first 19 days of the year, a figure lower than that of the same period in 2025, when 64 cases were reported, and that of 2024, with 77 violent deaths. However, citizens on social networks and community leaders claim that these numbers do not reflect the climate of insecurity that, they say, persists in different areas of the country.

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“January is a month in which social dynamics historically impact the increase in the homicide rate, but so far we have maintained stability”, Raful expressed, while expressing his confidence that the results continue to improve with the preventive work of the authorities. The minister also pointed out that the main cause of homicides is not directly related to common crime, but to social conflict, which represents 41.8% of the registered cases. In her opinion, this is a preventable and priority issue for public security policies in 2026. However, for citizens, the perception of insecurity remains a daily reality, which has reignited the debate on the effectiveness of security strategies and the gap between official reports and the daily experience of the population.