Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Brazil Ups Policing Program as World Cup Approaches

Taylor Barnes from the New York Times writes about the increased policing program in the slums of Rio De Janeiro. This comes from a five-year policing program that places permanent police units in certain slums. By doing this, the country limits the number of sudden police raids that leads to violence and chaos. For the most part, these police units are being placed in slums that divide the airport and typical tourist attractions.

Since Brazil is hosting this year’s World Cup soccer tournament, it’s likely that this it is trying to get crime and chaos in poor neighborhoods under control, since it will be on the world stage. Given the locations of the police, this new policing policy doesn’t seem to be spreading to other parts of Rio De Janeiro, just the parts “visible” to the world.

Some critics are saying that this “occupation is a political move intended to impress voters nervous about security ahead of elections for governor and president this fall”. Taylor adds that people seem to be going about their lives calmly, even with armed soldiers and tanks wandering through their neighborhoods.

Posted by Evy Lopez

http://search.proquest.com/nationalnewsexpanded/docview/1512809370/AA821E77E2C14200PQ/28?accountid=44854

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