By Michela DellaMonica, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL — Last summer’s Confederations Cup drew thousands of international spectators and increased police presence in Rio de Janeiro. For the FIFA World Cup tournament this June, the Special Committee of State Security for Major Events (CESEGE) has announced a seventy percent increase in police force at the Maracanã Stadium and throughout the city.
Around 2,372 military police will patrol the iconic Maracanã and another 2,580 policemen will be on standby in case of emergencies on game day.
In addition to strengthening the military police, the civil police will service the Center for Attention to Foreign Tourists in stations located in areas close to the games in the presence of 156 police agents specializing in foreign languages. The overall number of police working throughout the state of Rio de Janeiro will reach 4,926 during the World Cup.
Similar to the reports produced during last year’s Confederations Cup and World Youth Day, the Institute of Public Safety will produce a daily report with police incidents involving event delegations and the public at large.
Furthermore, there will be a police outpost at the Special Commission to Support Tourism in Santos Dumont Airport in Glória, as well as the Tom Jobim International Airport on Governor’s Island. There will also be a judicial unit of the City Police in Jacarézinho for catered events involving large numbers of people. The agency will also provide specialized agents in operations with the use of helicopter crews.
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