Security in Rio de Janeiro has always been a problem for the Marvelous City. Decades and decades the city has suffered from increased levels of violence. The gunfights in the favelas become a common topic in the news, people hid in their homes and fear and insecurity were living in the homes of all social classes.
This sad story began to change in December 2008 with the deployment of the first Unit Pacification Police in Santa Marta favela in Botafogo. The UPP first came with the promise of change, that new times had come and the public security in Rio de Janeiro would undergo profound changes.
The promise and doubt was cast was in the air. Initially, the population did not believe in all those political speeches. The media publicized each day new articles and new information, but many were discredited, many attempts have been unsuccessful in the past. Others ardently hope for change, their lives could no longer endure. The feeling was great doubt, but remained a bit of hope.
Months went by, new UPP’s were coming, and slowly people began to think.She believed that the change could be possible if the work was serious and ongoing. The news on TV already showed some encouraging data, but everyone knew that the work was just beginning.
When the population began to think that we would live in security in Rio de Janeiro, began attacks in the city. It took nearly seven days of horror. The major criminal factions showed their dissatisfaction with the new security measures are, and they were slowly losing ground and found themselves stuck. They decided to cash her frustrations and showing its power burning buses and cars were torched nearly 100 vehicles, actions that terrorized the population and the daily life of the city.
The news followed in real time. The police action was disclosed by the second. Everyone applauded when traffickers have lost their territories more powerful for the police. Many bandits fled, but the attacks were over and the police force went on a trial by fire. Everyone saw that the job security was no joke that the new phase had come to stay.
Today it’s been more than two years since the first Unit Pacification Police was inaugurated. In the process many lessons were learned. The security policy that was sold almost like a miracle came to be treated as the first step to a change actually planned in the security of Rio de Janeiro. New plans began to be traced, the project’s social UPP was launched to extend the work beyond security. This population is now free of the shootings have conditions to develop.
The latest research on the safety of the state showed better results but still far from ideal. Compared to January 2010 to January 2011 the murder rate fell 4.6%, of larceny (theft with death) fell 52.6%, theft from home fell 25.2%, vehicle theft decreased to 19 %, the assault on pedestrian fell 9.7%, but the attempted murder increased 9.2%, and assault on buses rose 9.3%.
But police corruption still exists, there is one day to another that ends with the corruption that was rooted in the police. Little by little new frauds are discovered, police arrested for abuse of power, corruption and even theft.The state security secretary Jose Beltrame remains firm in his actions, his speeches focused on work and constant smoothness result, stresses that this is an ongoing process of long-term planning.
After several scandals of police corruption in February 2011 a woman with experience in public safety, was named the new head of the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro. Marta Rocha arrives to continue this process of change, to ensure the public that the work is being done and that little by little, the Marvelous City will regain the days of peace.
The weather in Rio de Janeiro is now of great hope. The majority of the population believes this new phase of public security policy of the city. The slums have not received the UPP hours waiting anxiously for his peacemaking. Although there are mistakes, are still found abusive and corrupt police, but the final balance has been very positive.
Throughout Brazil, tourists and people who love the Rio’s wish that the UPP, along with a federal policy on public safety will continue to innovate to improve the quality of life of people living or passing through this city daily.We need to ensure security we can develop ourselves and to respond to this new phase of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. We will develop our people so that our country will grow fairly and equitably.
Related Subjects:
Slums
Corrupt police and militia
Drug trafficking
Social UPP
