Rio and crime

From the BBC:
Around 420 officers moved back into an area known as the German Complex a day after staging a big show of strength. The police action is part of an increasingly assertive security policy in Rio de Janeiro, which has been criticised by some human rights groups. In Wednesday's action, one person was injured as gun battles broke out.

Brazilian media reported that 300 military police officers and 120 from the national federal police force resumed operations early on Thursday to try to stop drugs and weapons getting into the area. The confrontation in the German Complex - a group of favelas or shanty towns not far from the international airport in Rio - began more than a month ago after two policemen were killed. Since then police have maintained a heavy presence in the area and, according to local reports, 64 people have been wounded and at least 17 have died in the past few weeks.

Residents have paid a heavy price in this continuing confrontation, living in constant fear, with schools and shops often closed, the BBC's correspondent in Brazil, Gary Duffy, says. In the latest shift in strategy, police on Wednesday sealed off access routes into the favelas, searching men, women and children. The police operation focused on a favela known as Vila Cruzeiro, and involved 250 national force officers and 200 other police officers from across the city. Throughout Wednesday there were several gun battles and police used heavily reinforced vehicles to maintain their presence.

Rio's governor, Sergio Cabral, who took office earlier this year, has made clear his determination to reclaim parts of the city where drug gangs have taken control. But human rights groups have criticised the tactics and say killings by police are not properly investigated.

Yes that should keep the numbers of prospective tourists down quite nicely. Of course none of them will know where Alemaois , less are likely to go anywhere near it but then again Brasil is all just one big Holiday Inn isn't it?

The alternative is for the authorities to do nothing at all & let the criminals carry on as usual (which seems to have been the preferred option until now). As for the unspecified "human rights groups" the average carioca's reaction seems to be if they're so bleeding clever let them go into the favelas & appeal to the drug gangs' better nature.

Actually I was commenting on the sense of posting the article on this forum. The average person who reads this will have little idea of the geography let alone the back ground. And there are quite enough "is Brazil a scary place?" posts as it is. I doubt many of them ever venture outside of Zona Sul so why frighten the horses?

As it happens I have family who live not that far from that particular 'comunidade' and I have no particular problem with the police fighting their little war. In the broader scheme of things I doubt it will change much however.

Here's a well researched and thought provoking article on some of Brazil's less savoury policing methods. They come in shooting. Perhaps a little dated now but my bet is things haven't changed that much since '05.

For a prospective tourist it is interesting to note how much crime rates can vary according to the neighbourhood you're in. ie Most of the neighbourhoods tourist stay in or visit are well away from the statistically most dangerous areas of major cities with plenty of security.

In addition, Viva La Coca is great documentary that follows the drug trail from Bolivia to Brazil to Colombia. Episode two focuses on drug trafficing through the favelas in Rio. Rather heavy in parts. Google it.

Unfortunately it seems that if you are forced to live in a favela purely because you were unlucky enough to be born poor you not only have to survive the violence that comes with drug trafficing but also the police.

Travelers and prospective travelers can decide for themselves. I also have friends in Rio, and visit there regularly. If someone does not know the geography of Rio and decides not to investigate, it is up to them. I live in Fortaleza and lived in Rio for over a year. My wife, Brazilian, lived in Rio for 10 years. She moved several years ago due to the crime and would not go back. I love Rio but the crime there is a very real problem, even for tourists. You may know some people who have had no problem, but anecdotal evidence does not show much. #4 would apparently feel it is best to not publicize the crime in Rio since people will get too scared. As I said, I like Rio, and would visit there again in a second, but would also be careful about where I went and when. And crime has escalated since I was last there. A friend of my wifes in Fortaleza was recently robbed at gunpoint. In an ensuing struggle, the thief was shot 4 times. Police caught him at a nearby hospital, but he was quickly back on the streets since there was not space in the jails. It is NOT a matter of Oh, Brazil is scarey, but it is a beautiful country with tons to see where you need to be aware of the risks and need to be careful (in terms of security and health-- dengue has filled hospitals in Fortaleza), especially in the larger cities (Rio is worse than most, though not all, cities). Crime IS bad, and police are often (not always) useless. Bottom line is caveat emptor (or whatever the equivalent of travler beware is).