Rio de Janeiro’s Public Security Secretary, Federal Police Delegate Victor Santos, was interviewed this Tuesday (12), at the Rio Legislative Assembly (Alerj). According to him, the state has a shortage of approximately 25,000 police officers.
The portfolio holder recognized that there is a lack of material and personnel resources in state corporations, which, according to him, directly impacts public security actions.
According to the secretary, the state currently needs more than 20 thousand military police officers and 5 thousand civil police officers. Not to mention, he adds, the problems with public tenders, which take time, require resources and are only finalized in the medium and long term.
“We are readjusting the workforce and that is our biggest challenge. We cannot treat public safety as a case-by-case basis. But we have to understand that when you mobilize human resources, they will be lacking in a certain place”, said the secretary.
According to Victor Santos, today the secretariat’s biggest challenge is to face the problem of physical structure, in addition to promoting integration between the police.
“We have to have permanent actions. Therefore, it is important for everyone to be in the same folder. Many actors –in the police– do not speak to each other. We need to stop amateurism and not take it personally. You need to create an interpersonal relationship.”
State deputies decided to summon the secretary after the latest events in the Copacabana neighborhood, such as the attack on a 67-year-old man, who was punched in the face and then robbed by a group of criminals.
The Alerj commission also discussed security plans during the summer of this year. In addition, he discussed the re-creation of the portfolio, which still needs to be voted on by deputies.
Future of UPPs
According to the public security secretary, the future of the Pacifying Police Units (UPPs) is still under discussion.
“The UPP has been a reality for some time. The PM has more knowledge and expertise for us to discuss with data. Is it interesting to end? It’s not interesting? Will the police officer return to the battalion?” he asked.
For the deputies of the Public Security and Police Affairs Committee, the secretary’s participation in the hearing was essential to discuss violence in the city and state.
The secretaries of the Civil and Military police were also invited, but did not attend. They sent representatives.
Rio’s city hall did not send representatives, although the heads of the municipal departments of Social Assistance and Public Order were invited.
What the government says
In a note, the Rio government stated that “the deficit of agents to which the secretary refers is a historical problem, lasting decades, that cannot be attributed to the current management” and that the Executive “works responsibly, within a regime of fiscal recovery, to increase the number of corporations.”
“Recently, 1,741 candidates were called up for the training course at the Sylvio Terra State Police Academy (Acadepol), of which 901 were in the first classes, whose classes will conclude this month. Candidates who graduate will expand the Civil Police staff in the first half of 2024. In addition, the competition is underway to fill 2 thousand vacancies for the Rio de Janeiro Military Police Soldier Training Course”, adds the note.
The government also says that governor Cláudio Castro (PL) “has already invested more than R$2 billion in public security” and that “the use of technology, combined with intelligence and the work of security agents has brought historic results regarding the drop in violence”.
“It is worth highlighting that we have reinforced proximity policing in several locations across the state with the inauguration of 19 Segurança Presente bases in the last three years alone. Currently, the program has 40 bases spread across 22 municipalities in Rio de Janeiro”, highlights the state government.
Source: CNN Brasil
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