Covid-19: Restrictive Measures Impact Rio’s Crime Records

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Tuesday, May 26th, the Public Safety Institute (ISP) released figures on crimes registered in Rio de Janeiro in April 2020. According to ISP, the adoption of restrictive measures to prevent and fight the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state has impacted crime records in both March and April.

The restrictive measures were introduced on March 13th. The indicators may show a drop because of social distancing, which helps reduce crime, and a decrease in the records of occurrences, resulting in under-reporting.

Data on strategic indicators analyzed by ISP fell in April, for the most part. Only the number of deaths due to the intervention of state agents increased when there is a confrontation with the security forces: 606 between January and April. In April there were 177 deaths. When compared to last year, the indicator increased eight percent in relation to the four month period and 43 percent in relation to April.

The number of larceny cases dropped 20 percent in April: there were 2,594 cases. The number of cyber thefts increased by over 20 percent. Compared to the same month last year, cybercrimes rose from 9.3 percent in April 2019 to 31.1 percent in April 2020.

Intentional lethal violent crimes (murder, robbery followed by death, and bodily injury followed by death) claimed 1,399 victims in the first four months of 2020 and 321 in April. When compared to last year, there was a five percent drop compared to the four months and a 14 percent drop compared to April.

The number of murders (when there is intent to kill) totaled 1,355 in the first four months of 2020. In April, there were 311. When compared to last year, the indicator dropped four percent in relation to the fourth quarter and 14 percent in relation to April.

In the case of robbery followed by death (robbery-homicide), there were 31 victims in the first four months of 2020 and five in April. When compared to last year, the indicator showed 14 fewer deaths than in the four months and six fewer than in April.

Cargo theft also dropped in April: there were 337 cases. There were 1,698 cases in the fourth quarter. When compared to last year, the indicator dropped by 37 percent in relation to the four months and by 49 percent in relation to April.

Auto theft also dropped significantly: there were 10,468 incidents in the first four months of 2020 and 1,847 in April. Compared to last year, the indicator fell 30 percent over the four months and 51 percent over April.

Street crime, which includes robbery of pedestrians, mobile phone theft, and group theft, also dropped significantly. There were 29,622 records in the first four months of 2020 and 4,021 in April. When compared to last year, the indicator showed a drop of 34 percent over the four months and 64 percent over April.

Despite the quarantine, which leads women to spend more time at home, the number of femicide victims and attempted femicide in April 2020 dropped when compared to the same month last year: there were three femicide victims and 15 attempted femicide cases.

The total number of crimes against women recorded last month dropped 51 percent in April compared to the same period last year: 3,239 this year compared to 6,605 in 2019.

Source: Agência Brasil