Crime in Samoa

Samoa Police Prisons & Corrections Services, including the Samoa Police Service, is the formal law-enforcement system. Police work covers prevention, detection, investigation and protection of life and property. The Criminal Investigation Division handles serious cases, including reported offences carrying a possible maximum sentence of seven years or more. The Domestic Violence Unit deals with domestic and family violence, while the Forensic Unit supports evidence work and the Maritime Unit handles offshore border control, investigations, compliance and detention in Samoa's exclusive economic zone. Call 911 for an emergency. The police headquarters in Apia can be reached at 22222, and direct contact with a police station or local outpost is a recognised reporting channel. Outpost numbers include Afega 28921, Asau 58022, Fagamalo 54309, Faleata 29127, Faleolo 42685, Lalomanu 47700, Lotofaga 35140, Poutasi 40716, Tuasivi 53515, Vaito'omuli 50018 and the Maritime Outpost 25418. Some guidance also gives 997 for calls from non-Samoan mobile numbers; use 911 as the primary emergency number and check with the mobile provider if a foreign phone cannot connect. Outside Apia, police presence can be more limited and response may be slower or less reliable. Village authorities can provide a local safety supplement, but their role does not replace formal police reporting. Public information does not provide a current, reliable national crime rate or a dependable regional breakdown. Samoa Bureau of Statistics material contains an older criminal-incidents series from 2008/09 to 2011/12, and the latest WHO homicide indicator identified in the available research is from 2019. Samoa's death-registration data has quality limitations, so these sources should not be treated as proof of a current national trend. Travel guidance does not describe the overall crime rate as high, but it identifies petty theft, robbery, break-ins, assault and sexual assault as risks. Everyday precautions reduce exposure: avoid walking alone at night in busy Apia nightlife areas, secure doors and vehicles, and do not leave valuables unattended. Alcohol and drugs are documented risk factors connected with violence, sexual assault, family violence, child abuse or neglect, public disorder, vandalism and drug possession. Churches, families, villages and community networks are used in prevention and early reporting, alongside police community engagement. For sexual violence, domestic violence or child-protection concerns, Samoa Victim Support Group provides a free 24-hour helpline at +685 800 7874. It offers case management, referral to police, court support, information about victim rights and procedures, psychosocial support, emergency accommodation, food, clothing and medical assistance. Campus of Hope provides temporary protection accommodation for women and children. The Family Court can issue Interim Protection Orders. The Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development coordinates social-development work and services relating to children, women and family violence. Service charges beyond the free helpline and fixed processing times are not publicly established; government funding to Samoa Victim Support Group was reported at WST 500,000 in 2024. For scams, phishing, account takeover or other cyber incidents, SamCERT is Samoa's national cybersecurity incident channel under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Reports are handled confidentially, and early reporting can limit damage. Save messages, payment records and other evidence, do not retaliate, block the sender and contact the police as well when the conduct appears criminal. Use multi-factor authentication and monitor accounts after suspected compromise. At an ATM, check the card slot and keypad, cover the PIN and review account activity for unfamiliar transactions. SamCERT provides the technical incident channel; a separate public police cybercrime reporting process is not documented in the available information. Young people aged 10 to 17 may be dealt with through the Youth Court under the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration. Hearings are closed, with access generally limited to court officers, the parties and their legal representatives, witnesses while giving evidence, a guardian and the alleged victim. The Apia or Mulinuu court contact is +685 22671-22674, and the Tuasivi court contact on Savai'i is +685 53514. Samoa also uses prevention and rehabilitation networks such as Project Safe and Resilient Samoa, Say No to Drugs and Say No to Violence for 2024-2025, and village, church and family groups. An Upolu expansion is planned for 2026.