Pacifying Police Unit
Encyclopedia
The Pacifying Police Unit , abbreviated UPP, is a law enforcement
program in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
, which aims at reclaiming territories, more commonly favela
s, controlled by gangs of drug dealers or private militias
. The program was implemented by and is associated with governor Sérgio Cabral Filho
and state Security Secretary José Mariano Beltrame.
The areas targeted by the UPP program have usually had some public utilities and services taken over by a cartel of criminal organizations; this often leads to a recurrence of extortion
and tax evasion
. The UPP comprises measures such as intensive policing and improvements in social services to meet the needs of locals, while overt criminal activities are inhibited. Typically, the establishment of an UPP in a favela is spearheaded by Rio de Janeiro's elite police battalion, BOPE
. Each new Pacifying Police Unit is composed of hundreds of trained policemen, who work with the program for an indefinite period of time.
, the program has been enacted in eighteen favela
s in the city of Rio de Janeiro, among which Cidade de Deus
, Dona Marta
and Morro da Babilônia
. In areas served, violent crime has fallen dramatically, while property value increased. It has generally been regarded as a major success in the fight against organized crime in Rio, and is the main contributing factor to Cabral Filho's popularity. There are plans to extend the program to other areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
While it has been suspected that criminals simply flee neighborhoods with UPPs to other areas, Secretary Beltrame denies this.
Specialist law enforcement agency
A specialist law enforcement agency is a law enforcement agency which specialises in the types of laws it enforces, or types of activities it undertakes, or geography it enforces laws in, or these in combination....
program in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, which aims at reclaiming territories, more commonly favela
Favela
A favela is the generally used term for a shanty town in Brazil. In the late 18th century, the first settlements were called bairros africanos . This was the place where former slaves with no land ownership and no options for work lived. Over the years, many freed black slaves moved in...
s, controlled by gangs of drug dealers or private militias
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. The program was implemented by and is associated with governor Sérgio Cabral Filho
Sérgio Cabral Filho
Sérgio de Oliveira Cabral Santos Filho , is a Brazilian politician and journalist.In the 2006 Brazilian general elections, he was elected governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro; he was sworn into office on January 1, 2007....
and state Security Secretary José Mariano Beltrame.
The areas targeted by the UPP program have usually had some public utilities and services taken over by a cartel of criminal organizations; this often leads to a recurrence of extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
. The UPP comprises measures such as intensive policing and improvements in social services to meet the needs of locals, while overt criminal activities are inhibited. Typically, the establishment of an UPP in a favela is spearheaded by Rio de Janeiro's elite police battalion, BOPE
BOPE
Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais , mostly known by its acronym BOPE, is a special forces unit of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil....
. Each new Pacifying Police Unit is composed of hundreds of trained policemen, who work with the program for an indefinite period of time.
, the program has been enacted in eighteen favela
Favela
A favela is the generally used term for a shanty town in Brazil. In the late 18th century, the first settlements were called bairros africanos . This was the place where former slaves with no land ownership and no options for work lived. Over the years, many freed black slaves moved in...
s in the city of Rio de Janeiro, among which Cidade de Deus
Cidade de Deus (Rio de Janeiro)
The neighbourhood of Cidade de Deus is part of the borough of Jacarepaguá, in the Western Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is also known as CDD among their inhabitants....
, Dona Marta
Dona Marta
Dona Marta or "Favela Santa Marta" is a slum located in Botafogo in the South Zone Rio de Janeiro of Brazil. It has about 8000 residents, with 500 wooden houses, 2000 brick houses, 4 kindergartens, 3 bakeries, 2 sports fields, 1 block of a samba school, 3 military units and 1 smallmarket...
and Morro da Babilônia
Morro da Babilônia
The Morro da Babilônia is a favela in the Leme neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro, built on a steep ridge separating Copacabana beach from Botafogo....
. In areas served, violent crime has fallen dramatically, while property value increased. It has generally been regarded as a major success in the fight against organized crime in Rio, and is the main contributing factor to Cabral Filho's popularity. There are plans to extend the program to other areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
While it has been suspected that criminals simply flee neighborhoods with UPPs to other areas, Secretary Beltrame denies this.