Crime in Gambia

Petty street crime and home burglary are significant practical concerns, particularly in Banjul, tourist areas, markets, beaches, ferry areas and crowded events. Typical incidents include pickpocketing, bag or phone snatching, theft from vehicles and theft from hotel rooms. Travel advisories also describe unsolicited approaches by people sometimes called “bumsters”, including unwanted help, tours or pressure for money. Do not infer a nationwide crime rate from these patterns. No current, freely accessible nationwide Gambia Police Force crime series was verified. A 2025 SDG16 survey by the Gambia Bureau of Statistics and UNDP recorded psychological violence for 15.5% of respondents, physical violence for 12.9% and sexual violence for 2.4%. Reported sexual violence was 3.3% among women and 1.4% among men. Rural respondents reported physical violence at 15.2% and psychological violence at 17.6%. Only 25% of physical-violence cases, 22% of sexual-violence cases and 6% of psychological-violence cases were reported. The same survey recorded sexual harassment at 11.8% and non-sexual harassment at 10.7%; online settings were the leading setting for sexual harassment at 35.7%. These figures measure survey-reported experiences and perceptions, not police-recorded crime prevalence. The survey found that 53.2% felt safe walking in their neighbourhood after dark, compared with 65.9% of men and 42.2% of women. Among people who felt unsafe, a high local crime rate was the main reason for 66%, while poor street lighting accounted for 34%. Avoiding solitary walks after dark, isolated beaches, crowded markets and poorly lit routes reduces exposure. Keep cash, passports, phones and bags out of sight, secure vehicles and hotel rooms, use care at ATMs and do not physically resist a robbery. Carry an identity document or passport copy and keep the original secure. Decline unsolicited guides or tours firmly and avoid handing over money under pressure. The Gambia Police Force, under the Ministry of Interior, protects life and property, prevents and detects crime, apprehends suspects and enforces the law. Police stations and security checkpoints operate across the country, while community-policing forums, volunteers, district structures and the Model Police Station approach provide additional local contact. The Essau Model Police Station includes gender- and child-protection spaces and separate detention cells. Rural reach, staffing and resources remain uneven. The Government portal lists Police 117, Fire 118, the GBV hotline 1313, Tourist Services 1030, ambulance 116 and the Red Cross 1199. Emergency response is intended to operate around the clock, but local station contacts and practical capacity can vary. Give the emergency service your exact location and the nature of the incident. There is no evidenced universal police-report form, standard report fee or nationwide response deadline. Report at the nearest police station when immediate danger has passed, and preserve identification, dates, messages, screenshots, witness details and medical records. The Gambia does not use a UK-style 999 system, so 117 is the first police contact listed by the Government portal. Gender-based or sexual violence should reach a formal police, health or Department of Social Welfare pathway rather than relying only on an informal settlement. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, the National Gender-Based Violence Secretariat and hospital One-Stop Centres can connect survivors with temporary accommodation, medical care, legal aid, counselling and psychosocial support. The Criminal Prosecutions Department of the Ministry of Justice has an SGBV Unit for priority prosecution. Capacity, location and access vary, so confirm the current service locally. The Gambia Police Force Child Welfare Unit was established in 1995. Its handbook provides for a child-welfare function at every police station, although staffing varies. Child cases should receive sensitive and confidential investigation with coordination between the police and the Department of Social Welfare. Every person has a duty to report child abuse or violations of children’s rights to the police or the Department of Social Welfare. The Department supports children at risk, children in conflict with the law and families, including shelter and care. Under the Children’s Act, the identity and records of a child offender receive confidential treatment. The National Agency for Legal Aid provides legal advice and criminal representation at courts, police stations and prisons. Its headquarters are in Banjul, with centres in Basse and Farafenni; other regional coverage is incomplete. The Constitution provides for reasons for arrest or detention, access to a legal practitioner within three hours and appearance before a court within a maximum of 72 hours. Reports indicate that the 72-hour limit is regularly exceeded in practice. Legal-aid access depends on eligibility and service capacity. Community authorities are the most-used dispute-resolution channel for many disputes, and local leaders, women’s groups, youth groups and religious actors may help prevent escalation or refer a matter. Informal handling can suit a low-level conflict, but it is not a substitute for reporting urgent, violent, sexual, child-related or cybercrime incidents. Informal resolution can also create retaliation or confidentiality risks. Serious cases require a formal channel. For digital crime, the National Cybersecurity Strategy and Policy 2022–2026 provides the national framework. The Gambia Police Force and Ministry of Interior investigate and enforce cybercrime matters, while GM-CSIRT provides monitoring, threat response, training and awareness. Common harms include unwanted sexual messages or calls, non-consensual explicit content, online harassment and fraud. Use privacy controls and multi-factor authentication, avoid suspicious links and payment requests, and preserve evidence before blocking an account. A 2023 Cybercrime Bill was discussed and validated, but its enactment status is not confirmed; no public nationwide cybercrime self-reporting portal should be assumed. The 2025 survey recorded bribery exposure for 14.6% of people who had contact with public officials. The Anti-Corruption Commission receives complaints about corruption, abuse of power and misconduct. The Ombudsman addresses injustice, maladministration, discrimination and corruption by public officers. Record the requested payment, officer or station, date and witnesses, and do not treat a bribe request as a normal service fee. There is no evidenced general nationwide victim-compensation scheme or single victim-support pathway for every type of crime. Transport, phone use, medical care and replacement documents may create private costs. Verify current numbers, opening arrangements, eligibility and local service capacity before relying on them.