Security Forces: What's happening now?

On February 9, 2012 the military police, civil police and firefighters in Rio de Janeiro declared a strike demanding a basic rate salary increase to R$3,500, or just over $2,000 USD. The civil police union ended up postponing the strike in order to stand by their primary commitment; to maintain security. The military police and firefighters continued to strike, however, despite the city-wide Carnaval celebrations that would certainly present security issues. The Secretary for the Civil Defense Department and fire brigade commander, Colonel Sérgio Simões, stated that 14,000 army troops and an additional 300 troops from the National Seucirity Force would be deployed to patrol the state and provide fire services. Recent news reports argue that the Brazilian public’s confidence in the police is greater now more than it ever has been, and that community members are increasingly feeling valued throughout society. This strike and lack of police surveillance make the newfound confidence sound like it might have just been the media’s spin on it (Croix).

Security policy analysts often suggest that Rio’s several police forces reform and unify into one large force. According to one public safety specialist, this is not a feasible option since each force has a specific function. Brazil’s Public Safety Secretary explains: “We inherited [the division between civil, investigative police and military, enforcement police] from the times of the [Portuguese] empire. You can’t decree things. Today, as Secretary, I think we’re still very far from having a police force with the whole cycle, from investigation to patrolling.”

There are around five hundred new police officers entering the force each month. The new officers are being trained under a new mentality, one which aims at de-emphasizing the importance of killing; one where police offers don’t feel naked without a rifle. As the curriculum changes and Rio’s favelas undergo their makeovers, one wonders if now would be the best time to transform the police forces into one, and if so, what this would look like? One thing is clear; in order to be effective, officials will need to maintain a constant community presence that is focused on prevention and respects human rights. The use of highly visible, forceful and ‘military style’ executions are becoming less and less popular (Michaels).

The UPPs (Pacifying Police Divisions) are squadrons of Brazilian officers occupying favelas using community-policing methods. The drug gangs and traffickers, who often have been in control of the favelas for over three decades, certainly feel the pressure on themselves and on their profits. Reflecting on the seriousness of the invasions, Beltrame stated (in somewhat war-like language), "We have taken from these people what was never taken from them before — their territory. They commit their barbarous acts, and they run for their hideouts, protected by weapons of war. It's important to arrest them, but it is more important to occupy their territory. Without seizing territory, there is no advance."

There have been 17 UPPs set up in 68 favelas, and crimes (such as murder and assault) in those communities are down significantly. To understand the implications of the UPPs will take a much deeper analysis, which will be addressed later on with the help of community (favela) level testimonies. However, it is clear that the policies for favela integration and restructuring must be long-term, and that they will require more than just community policing, and will need the support of international organizations and local NGOs.

Downie, Andrew. “Rio Finally Makes Headway Against its Drug Gangs.” Time Magazine. 11/26/2010.

Croiz, Sarah de Sainte. “Police Strike in Rio Begins Today: Daily” Rio Times. 2/10/2012.

Michaels, Julia. “Rio's top cop talks public safety policy, favela pacification program.” Latin America Monitor. 10/20/2011.

Brazil's Unique Situation

Brazil is looking forward to the 'kick-start' that the upcoming mega-events are expected to give to its economy and development. This will not come without a cost though, and large investments are being made into Brazil's infrastructure and stadia.

The map on the left shows the 12 different locations of the host cities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Each stadium is supposed to host between 40,000-60,000 guests.

Rio de Janeiro will also serve as the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The most recent mega-events hosted in Brazil include the 1950 World Cup, the 1963 Pan-American Games and the 2007 Pan-American Games. The 2007 games were hosted in Rio, and sold 1.3 million tickets. These games were intended to be used as propaganda to secure Brazil as the host of the upcoming World Cup and Olympics. The propaganda worked.

The two principle economic reasons for hosting mega-events are economic development and a positive image in the media. As a result of hosting a mega-event, Brazil will automatically be the center of international media attention. Through positive media coverage, Brazil has the potential to dramatically increase tourism revenues.

The public budget and tax dollars used for the 2007 games were justified to Brazilians by the potential long-term economic benefits. Audience Characteristics of the 2007 games were somewhat surprising. 55% of the attending audience was between the ages of 10 and 29. Of the overwhelmingly young audience, 50% of all attendees bought their tickets online. Only 20% of the audience was from Rio, and only 3.9% was foreign tourists. Considering the high numbers of tickets purchased electronically, it would be beneficial to provide as much information as possible online before the events.

The unique situation in Rio presents many security challenges. The rich and poor live literally side by side. In order to feel comfortable, the rich often exclude the poor or block them from interfering with their lives. The social exclusion has lead to prevalent discrimination against people living in a favela (slum). Favelas are inter-mixed geographically with prosperous neighborhoods and are historically controlled by drug dealers.

Favelas are a huge component of Brazil's pop culture and they are participating more and more in local commerce activities. Store owners and transportation workers in the favelas are taxed by unofficial 'leaders.' Tourism is starting to bring in new opportunities for the 'favelados' (residents of the favelas). Many tourists make it a priority to visit the infamous favelas, despite safety concerns.

Security Measures to Consider

1. Crowd Management-This force pays special attention to organization, offers service and assistance to audience members, constitutes a low-level of policing. In the past, crowd management officers were not dressed as typical police force members. They intentionally appeared less aggressive.
For the 2007 Gemes, a large portion of these positions were filled by volunteers. The volunteers handed out guides (stadium maps, public transport, etc.) and spoke over megaphones.

A security concern of this would be the credibility of volunteers as a security force, even
for low-level policing.

2. Hotel and Restaurant Security
3. Transportation Security

Social Issues brought on by hosting mega-events

1. Interference with Public Space
The proposed destruction of the Parque de Flamengo in Marina de Gloria for the 2007 Games is one of the most well-known interferences. A famous panarama of the city was to be destroyed. The project was susbended due to threats from society.

2.Property Issues
Many of the homes surrounding the stadium are to be expropriated to allow for stadium development. For those properties that aren't taken over, prices are expected to rise making them unaffordable for many. Residents will be going through a 'redistribution' of location.

3.Promises not kept
Two new subway lines were promised for the 2007 Games and they were never built. The public was also promised access to use the stadiums after the events, however they were rarely used after the event. Sports are considered a 'luxury good' and the demand for stadium use was very low.

The mega-events and new policies are often seen as being used for city marketing, not for actually solving daily social problems of urban life. Previous investments tended to go toward already socially privileged areas, and avoided the areas that need help the most. The social issues have the potential to cause an unsupportive Brazilian public and a negative reaction to the authoritarianism.

Sources:

"FIFA World Cup Brazil." Destination. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/destination/cities/index.html

"Metamorphosis of Marginality in Rio." Perlman, Janice

“Pan-American Games in Rio in 2007.” Curi, Knijnik,
Mascarenhas. International Review for the Sociology of Sport.

"Predicting the Costs and Benefits of Major Sporting Events." Barday, Jonathon