LAW ENFORCEMENT IN RIO DE JANEIRO’S FAVELAS – PART II

This month’s Trend is a follow-up to our previous publication about the implementation and decline of the UPP program in Rio de Janeiro. The persistent presence of law enforcement inside favelas became a hot topic after Jacarezinho’s violent operation on May 6^th, which triggered public outcry and calls to for security policy changes. Rio de Janeiro Governor, Claudio Castro, mentioned, a few weeks ago, a possible replication of the UPP program set up by the state government.

This raises the question of whether or not the UPP program is in itself successful, and what should be changed to improve it, or if it should be completely reformulated.

Some experts suggest that the program failed because the UPPs did not get the support of the local population. In addition, the program did not contemplate the provision of public services, other than security, that would improve the long-term quality of life of the residents such as access to education, social inclusion, and health care. This opinion is shared by the current governor, Claudio Castro.

Concerns have also been voiced about police corruption within the UPPs. According to critics, after control of certain favelas was taken from criminal organizations, the policemen assigned to these bases turned a blind-eye to criminal activities themselves.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR A NEW ATTEMPT

The biggest challenge for Castro’s project will be to run a project in the long term moreover considering the scarcity of public funds. Those who remember the cinematic scenes of conflicts and escapes during the retaking of the favelas by public forces more than 10 years ago remember that expectations at the time were high. However, if the UPPs weakened the criminal groups in their strongholds, they did not eradicate them at all. Rather, they pushed them to less policed places in the outskirts of the city. Today, these criminal organizations are back and more powerful.

In 2020, the unemployment rate of 18–24-year-olds reached 31.4% in Brazil (IBGE) and the state of Rio de Janeiro had the highest rate in the country (34.1%).

Youth unemployment is particularly high amongst communities living in precarious conditions, such as those living in favelas. Unable to find regular employment, affected youths often find an alternative source of income in criminal activities.

In light of this context, experts contend that the approach to public security should integrate the social inclusion, especially of disadvantaged youth. Public security cannot be treated as an exclusive police responsibility, based solely on repression. The police has limited preventive power, while investment in fighting the root causes of criminality (unemployment, lack of education and social exclusion) could contribute to lasting, long-term solutions.

BAIRRO SEGURO (SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD)

Regarding the fight against petty crime, mainly in residential and commercial areas, the Governor launched on June 14^th a new public security program called Bairro Seguro (Safe Neighborhood). The program is different from the Segurança Presente program, that started in 2014 and focuses on touristic areas. Bairro Seguro is based on a proximity policing model carried out by patrols of three agents amongst military police members, civil agents (former members of the Armed Forces) and social workers. Patrols are done on foot, by bicycle, by motorcycle and vehicle.

Bairro Seguro promotes public security, citizenship and social service actions. In the first stage, Bairro Seguro will operate in 25 areas of Rio de Janeiro’s Metropolitan Region, mostly in the capital.

However, the program has been designed to be implemented everywhere in the city except in the favelas. Would it be possible to transpose it to the most disadvantaged areas of the city, considering that it brings no answer to the lack of infrastructures and social inclusion?

As of the date of publication of this report, the last public announcement on this subject dates back to May 13^th, when the Governor declared that the retaking of favelas would resume, just not in the form of UPP deployments.