Crime in Brazil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (April 2008) |
Crime in Brazil has a high rate[1][original research?] and it has various facets. Common forms of crime include drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, murder for hire, fraud, human trafficking, corruption, and black marketeering.
Brazil has serious problems with crime especially in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Recife.[2] With roughly 23.8 homicides per 100,000 residents,[3] muggings, robberies, kidnappings[4] and gang violence[5] are common Police brutality and corruption are widespread.[6][7] Inefficient public services,[8][9][10] especially those related to security, education and health, severely affect quality of life. Organized crime is well established and include some major criminal organizations like Comando Vermelho, Amigos dos Amigos and Primeiro Comando da Capital. In 2006 46,660 people were murdered in Brazil a reduction if compared to 2005, when 47,578 were killed. The year of 2003 still holds the record for total number of murders in Brazil, that year alone 51,043 people were murdered.[11] Computer hacking and internet fraud have a strong presence in Brazil, with eight out of every ten of the world's hackers from Brazil.[12]
BRASILIA: Once spared the crime rates of other Brazilian cities, Brasilia now has significant crime problems. Following the citywide trend of previous years, reports of residential burglaries continue to occur in the generally affluent residential sections of the city. Public transportation, hotel sectors and tourist areas are still the locations with the highest crime rates, though statistics show that incidents can happen anywhere and at anytime. The majority of kidnappings in Brasilia continue to be the “quicknappings.”
The incidence of violent crime, including muggings, armed robbery and sexual assault is high, particularly in Belo Horizonte, Recife and other large cities. Carjacking is also common, particularly in major cities. Local citizens and visitors are often targeted by criminals, especially during public festivals such as Carnaval.[13] Criminals often use guns. More than 500,000 people have been killed by firearms in Brazil between 1979 and 2003, according to a new report by the United Nations.[14]
Gang-related violence is common throughout the Capital Brasilia. Most incidents have been directed at police, security officials and related facilities but gangs have also attacked official buildings, set alight public buses and robbed several banks.[15] May 2006 São Paulo violence began on the night of 12 May 2006 in São Paulo, Brazil. It was the worst outbreak of violence which has been recorded in Brazilian history and was directed against security forces and some civilian targets. By May 14 the attacks had spread to other Brazilian states including Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Bahia.
Crime levels in slum areas are very high.[citation needed] Victims have been seriously injured or killed when resisting perpetrators.[citation needed]
During peak tourist seasons, large, organised criminal gangs have reportedly robbed and assaulted beach goers. Sexual assaults have been reported in coastal tourist areas.[citation needed] 'Express kidnappings', where individuals are abducted and forced to withdraw funds from ATM machines to secure their release, are common in major cities including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Salvador and Recife.[16] Citizens and tourists are usually robbed and assaulted when using unregistered taxis.[citation needed] Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching is common.[citation needed] Thieves operate in outdoor markets, in hotels and on public transport.[citation needed] Driving in Brazil is hazardous due to aggressive driving habits, poorly maintained roads and large numbers of trucks and other slow vehicles on main routes. On average, Brazilian road culture is regarded as riskier than Western Europe's or North America's. [17]
Piracy occurs in the coastal areas of Brazil. Brazil has a long coast line with hundreds of bays and rivers. Most of these are believed to be without pirates. The more dangerous activities seemed to be centred around the Amazon river mouth and the region of Santos or Forteleza.[18]
Contents |
[edit] Efforts to combat crime
[edit] The National Security Force
The National Public Security Force (FNSP) was established in June 2004 by the Ministry of Justice, to act in situations in the emergency, in times of crisis. The FNSP is controlled by the National Security Bureau (Secretaria Nacional de Segurança) and brings together the best police states and the Federal Police. The group of elite, a kind of Brazilian Swat, was inspired by the peace forces of the United Nations (UN). With the setting up of troops, the federal government wanted to prevent the transmission of the Armed Forces to assist the state police in the fight against crime.
[edit] BOPE
BOPE (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais, or Special Police Operations Battalion), is the elite group of the Military Police. BOPE's exist in Brasília, São José and in many other cities. The most famous or infamous BOPE, is the BOPE-PMRJ (PMRJ being the 'rio de janeiro military police). There may be other BOPEs in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Their missions are; break barricades constructed by drug traffickers; extract police officers or civilians injured in confrontations; serve high-risk arrest warrants; hostage rescues; suppress prison rebellions; and conduct special missions in rough terrain such as swamps or mountainous.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Consular Information Sheet: Brazil. Bureau of Consular Affairs
- ^ Obit rate by aggression (Portuguese). DATASUS (2005). Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
- ^ No end of Violence (April 12, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
- ^ BBC News "Brazil's evolving kidnap culture" retrieved 2007-08-24
- ^ BBC News "Gang violence grips Brazil state" retrieved 2007-08-22
- ^ Human Rights Report "Police brutality in urban Brazil" retrieved 2007-08-24
- ^ Amnesty International "Violence in Brazil" retrieved 2007-08-24
- ^ FT.com, "Brazil ‘must lift barriers’ to new infrastructure" retrieved 2007-08-22
- ^ World Bank report,"How to Revitalize Infrastructure Investments in Brazil", vol.1, retrieved 2007-08-22
- ^ World Bank report, "How to Revitalize Infrastructure Investments in Brazil", vol.2, retrieved 2007-08-22
- ^ O DIA Online - Rio no mapa da morte
- ^ Brazil is world 'hacking capital'
- ^ BBC NEWS | Americas | Violence mars Rio carnival dawn
- ^ BBC NEWS | Americas | UN highlights Brazil gun crisis
- ^ BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Gang violence grips Brazil state
- ^ Travel Report for Brazil
- ^ Visiting Brazil and other countries British Embassy, Brazil
- ^ Yacht Piracy - Information Centre for Bluewater Sailors
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
