São Paulo governor bets on more police and on an offensive against drug trafficking to reverse criminality

São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas, who took office in 2023, faces the challenging task of combating increased criminality within the state.

As reported by the State Department of Public Safety (SSP-SP), an historically low number of military police, a deficit exceeding 30% in the civil police force, and a 4.7% rise in homicides compared to pre-pandemic times have all contributed to a state-wide uptick in crime.

To address this, the Freitas administration is taking swift action to augment law enforcement staff, enhance resources provided to security forces, and encourage inter-departmental collaboration.

Notably, Freitas has chosen experienced police officers, not lawyers, to lead the Department of Public Safety – a departure from previous governments’ strategies.

This shift in leadership is expected to bring practical, on-the-ground expertise into the department, which has been lacking in the recent past.

Despite the administration’s proactive measures such as increasing patrol presence and investing in intelligence and technology to fight organized crime, there have been rises in thefts, vehicle thefts, and assaults in the first four months of the year.

However, there has been a decline in crimes typically associated with organized crime syndicates.

In an effort to improve working conditions for police officers, a bill was proposed and unanimously approved to increase police wages by 20.2%.

A large-scale police recruitment drive was also launched, aiming to bring on additional personnel for both military and civil police forces.

Body camera use is being expanded, intended for officer oversight and safety, and to provide real-time data during patrols.

To combat organized crime, the administration focuses on expanding control actions, leveraging technology, and utilizing intelligence to break down groups involved in narcotrafficking, robbery, and homicides.

In late May, this led to the second-largest drug seizure in the history of the PM Highway Patrol.

Furthermore, the state government has initiated the “Paulista Wall” program, which aims to build a comprehensive communication network with surveillance cameras in various municipalities, centralized at the Integrated Command and Control Center (CICC).

The government focuses on enhancing integration among the state police forces and intensifying efforts in regions where crime has escalated most drastically in recent years.

Through these comprehensive strategies, the administration hopes to see significant improvements in crime statistics and public perception of safety within the next two years.