The public can expect an increased police presence on New Year’s Eve with high visibility patrols and vehicle check points set up around the island.
With many people planning to head out to bars, restaurants and the beach to welcome in the new year, followed by a national public holiday on 1 Jan., police are stepping up operations to make sure that celebrations are safe and crime-free.
A RCIPS spokesperson said that the New Year’s Eve celebrations and the first weekend of 2026 come under the Operation Winter Guardian holiday safety campaign, with the operation collobarating with the Arrive Alive 345 Campaign to maximise safety messaging.
A dedicated team of officers, separate from patrol officers, has been assigned to carry out Operation Winter Guardian, with a main task being of ensuring public safety through high visibility patrols and frequent vehicle check points, as well as monitoring events and the locations of large crowds.
Arrests made
In the first week of Operation Winter Guardian, the police’s annual holiday-safety campaign, more than 70 people were arrested for a variety of offences.
The operation, which began on 11 Dec., netted 15 people for drink-driving offences, just under 10 for robberies, and about 15 for drug-related crimes, police said in a statement on 20 Dec.
Police issued a plea to people not to drink and drive and to keep safe on New Year’s Eve by keeping an eye out for their companions.
“Safety is the number one priority for the police,” said RCIPS. “We ask that people utilise the purple ribbon bus service and don’t drink and drive. Celebrate responsibly and ensure that you look out for one another. Don’t leave your drinks unattended and hydrate between drinks to ensure that you do not get too inebriated.”
Many restaurants and bars across the islands are putting on special New Year’s Eve events throughout the evenings until the early hours. There are also firework displays planned for the evening, starting with the Camana Bay fireworks at 8pm with island-wide fireworks set to light up the night sky at the stroke of midnight.
Healthcare personnel across the islands are also standing by in case of medical emergencies over the rest of the holiday period. It will be Health City Camana Bay’s first New Year’s Eve at it celebrates its first anniversary on 1 Jan. and staffing levels have been boosted to cope with an expected rise in demand.
“As we head into the New Year’s Eve festivities, Health City has taken extensive steps to ensure our emergency department is fully prepared to support the community during what is traditionally one of the busiest periods of the year,” said Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, senior cardiothoracic surgeon and clinical director at Health City Cayman Islands.
Increase in admissions
“New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day often see an increase in emergency presentations, including accidents, cardiac events, alcohol-related illnesses, and other urgent medical conditions. To meet this demand, we have enhanced staffing levels across our emergency, nursing, diagnostics, imaging, and on-call specialty teams, ensuring round-the-clock access to rapid assessment, advanced diagnostics, and immediate, life-saving care.”
Dr. Chattuparambil added. “Over the past year, the Camana Bay hospital has played a critical role in delivering emergency and urgent care services to the Cayman community, offering modern facilities, expanded capacity, and rapid access to specialist expertise when every second counts.”
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