“Our Crime-Fighting Strategy Is Not Confrontation,” Says Justice Minister Moro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Justice and Public Safety Minister Sérgio Moro said the increase in police killings has occurred in some states because of local security forces.

“The increase in fatalities in clashes between police and criminals is not something that happens in the federal government. In the federal government, we do not have as a strategy to fight crime through confrontation. What has happened recently has no relation with the federal government,” he said during the event “Brazil Summit 2019,” organized by The Economist magazine in São Paulo.

On the other hand, the minister stated that the reduction in some crime statistics in all states of the federation, such as homicides, cargo thefts and bank robberies this year is an effect of the federal government’s actions, among them more incisive action against organized crime.

Moro added that there is a certain prejudice against the “exclusion of illegality” provision in the anti-crime package. According to him, this aspect of legitimate defense has similar wording in the Portuguese and German Penal Codes, which are not countries viewed as violent.

During the event, Moro also said that crime is part of the ‘Custo Brasil’ (“Brazilian Cost”) and that it affects economic performance, although it is not often remembered.

According to him, the main argument in favor of the anti-crime package is the high numbers of homicides in Brazil, although the statistics have shown a drop this year, which, he said, fell 22 percent by August. “Changing the legislation in the face of this reality seems compulsory to me,” he said, pointing out that the legislative agenda is dependent on Congress.

Source: Estadão Conteúdo