Serve and protect is far from a reality for police in Mexico. While there are many honest, hardworking cops in the Mexican local and federal police forces, they sadly operate in a system which fosters corruption. A history of scandals have tainted the institution, with officers either being paid to look away or not trained enough to know how to act.
A common question among Grupo IRENA’s clients, mostly investors in Mexico, is whether they can trust the police in times of trouble. In case of robbery or kidnapping, will an investigation really be opened? Can local patrol cars be counted on to attend the scene of a crime rapidly? A new program has begun to change this in recent years.
Your friendly neighborhood cop
Tired of the continuing negative reputation, authorities made an attempt to change this in 2016. A new type of police, known as Policía de Proximidad, was put in place to make cops more efficient and responsive, while increasing citizen supervision.
Mexico City was divided into 847 quadrants with a mobile police unit in charge of attending any emergency within each quadrant. The aim, authorities said at the time, would be for units to require an average of 2 minutes and 50 seconds to reach any crime or incident in their quadrant, including in sensitive areas such as schools and banks.
This was accompanied by a free number (5208 9898) for citizens to directly reach the police unit in charge of their quadrant. A phone app, Mi Policia, was made freely available for citizens to find the mobile phone number of their local beat cop.
Two years on, Policía de Proximidad has been rolled out in more cities, including Guadalajara, Los Cabos and Morelia. But has it really had an impact?
Some notable benefits
Overcoming the deep mistrust in police present across the Mexican public and enterprises is a huge task. It is impossible for any single program to make a significant dent while corruption remains unchecked in the upper echelons of government.
However, Policía de Proximidad has made a measurable notable improvement. It seems Mexico has finally understood and applied one of the basic tenets of community policing around the world. Seeing the same faces and same cars every day breeds trust and confidence. Furthermore, being known in the area means a policeman will find it far more difficult to carry out petty crimes or ask for a bribe. He would be caught immediately.
Part of the quadrant system is that officers are rotated out only when absolutely necessary, with most staying for months or years in the same posting. This allows Mexican citizens, even in the larger cities or neighborhoods, to associate a face to a name and reach that person when an emergency strikes.
Another notable improvement: the adoption of bicycles. 2,400 police now cycle in the streets of Mexico City and staff 409 surveillance centers which the public can visit at any time. Other elements have helped this system make a real difference. Home visits by local cops can now be reassuring events, instead of the smash and grab operations they often were.
The Policía de Proximidad program has also benefited from being somewhat isolated from other police units, such as having its own operational center and with each patrol car being tracked by GPS.
Copyright: Gobierno de CDMX
Mexico’s specific goals
It is important to note a major difference between the Western concept of “community policing” and Policía de Proximidad. Community policing, especially under the British model, is integral to becoming a familiar, reassuring presence. Police officers might visit homes, speak in schools, play football with kids, essentially become a local ambassador.
In Mexico, the goal is simpler: to bring police where there were none. A decade ago, many parts of Mexico City never saw police. Now, these new officers are reclaiming lost territory.
This does not mean they are particularly brilliant at their jobs. A lack of training and devotion in the Mexican police force is a real problem. Most rookies join the force because they want a steady paycheck, not because of some devotion to duty.
However, while the integrity and trustworthiness of every cop in the Policía de Proximidad program cannot be guaranteed, it would be wise of any business in an area under this program to get to know their local officer and cultivate a relationship with them. This makes their cooperation all the more likely should an incident happen.
Overcoming impossible odds
The success of Policía de Proximidad is a positive step. However, it has struggled to make a real dent. According to the ENVIPE 2017 poll, measuring the population’s stance on public security, 80 percent believe their local police are corrupt and less than 50 percent trust police in general.
As long as patrolmen are under pressure to pay bungs to their superiors on a weekly basis, and honest hires are ground down by a system too perverse to really make a difference, it is difficult to imagine this reputation improving.
New president Andrés Manuel López Obrador has long criticized the use of army soldiers to maintain peace in the streets of Mexico. However, since being elected in July, even he has admitted the army will remain deployed as the police is incapable of picking up the strain.
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
write my essay custom writing
write my essay custom writing, an.
dating naked https://freewebdating.net/
online sex chat https://freewebdating.net/
free dating site https://freedatinglive.com/
youwu666 https://allaboutdatingsites.com/
asian dating chat https://allaboutdatingsites.com/
simple-dating life https://datingwebsiteshopper.com/
tinder dating site free search https://datingwebsiteshopper.com/
dating gratis https://onlinedatinghunks.com/
men dating sites https://onlinedatingsuccessguide.com/
date free internet https://onlinedatingsuccessguide.com/
top free dating sites https://onlinedatingsurvey.com/
online dating service https://onlinedatingsurvey.com/
free sites of dating https://sexanddatingonline.com/
best free dating site https://sexanddatingonline.com/
free and single https://free-dating-sites-free-personals.com/
singles and personals https://jewish-dating-online.net/
aduilt dating https://jewish-dating-online.net/
online dating best sites https://jewish-dating-online.net/
dating relationships https://jewish-dating-online.net/
lets-casual-dating https://freewebdating.net/
dating team https://freewebdating.net/
coursework planner https://courseworkdomau.com/
design coursework https://courseworkdomau.com/
courseworks help https://buycoursework.org/
coursework uk https://buycoursework.org/
coursework website https://teachingcoursework.com/
coursework moderation https://teachingcoursework.com/
database coursework https://coursework-expert.com/
coursework psychology https://coursework-expert.com/
coursework marking https://courseworkinfotest.com/
do my coursework https://courseworkinfotest.com/
coursework help uk https://courseworkdownloads.com/
do my coursework https://mycourseworkhelp.net/
data analysis coursework https://mycourseworkhelp.net/
coursework sample https://writingacoursework.com/
coursework sample of written work https://writingacoursework.com/
coursework master https://courseworkninja.com/
coursework master https://courseworkninja.com/
help with coursework https://brainycoursework.com/
2stronghold
2irresolute
paper writing service superiorpapers https://studentpaperhelp.com/
online paper writing services https://studentpaperhelp.com/
order papers online https://ypaywallpapers.com/
write my paper canada https://ypaywallpapers.com/
purchase college papers https://premiumpapershelp.com/
paper writing services reviews https://premiumpapershelp.com/
pay for someone to write your paper https://papercranewritingservices.com/
custom thesis papers https://papercranewritingservices.com/
order paper online https://essaybuypaper.com/
buy a college paper online https://essaybuypaper.com/
write my paper college https://writemypaperquick.com/
pay someone to write your paper https://writemypaperquick.com/
write my paper https://mypaperwritinghelp.com/
custom papers for college https://mypaperwritinghelp.com/
best write my paper website https://buyessaypaperz.com/
college papers writing service https://buyessaypaperz.com/
pay to write my paper https://writingpaperservice.net/
custom note paper https://writingpaperservice.net/
buy custom paper https://cheapcustompaper.org/
help writing a paper for college https://cheapcustompaper.org/
custom paper service https://researchpaperswriting.org/
what is the best paper writing service https://researchpaperswriting.org/
write my paper for me in 3 hours https://top100custompapernapkins.com/
cheap custom papers https://top100custompapernapkins.com/
white paper writing services https://doyourpapersonline.com/
buy college papers https://doyourpapersonline.com/
papers writing service https://write-my-paper-for-me.org/
custom paper writing https://write-my-paper-for-me.org/
paper help writing https://writepapersformoney.com/
custom handwriting paper https://writepapersformoney.com/
can i pay someone to write my paper https://paperwritinghq.com/
college paper writers https://paperwritinghq.com/
someone write my paper for me https://uktermpaperwriters.com/
customized writing paper https://uktermpaperwriters.com/
write my paper for me fast https://sociologypapershelp.com/
custom written paper https://sociologypapershelp.com/
pay to write paper https://term-paper-help.org/
help with paper writing https://term-paper-help.org/
free gay chat room by zip code https://gaymanchatrooms.com/
gay porn video chat https://gayinteracialchat.com/
gay chat roullete https://gayinteracialchat.com/
oldest free chat line for straigh or gay https://free-gay-sex-chat.com/
gay massachusetts chat https://free-gay-sex-chat.com/
chat wed gay gratis https://gaymusclechatrooms.com/
gay webcam chat sites https://gaymusclechatrooms.com/
chat cam gay random https://gaychatnorules.com/
gay univere men chat https://gaychatnorules.com/
shemale/gay online chat sites https://gayphillychat.com/
gay black chat – live gay black men https://gayphillychat.com/
gay porn video chat https://chatcongays.com/
chat with senior gay’ https://chatcongays.com/
gay daddies free chat https://gay-live-chat.net/
gay video cam chat https://gay-live-chat.net/
free gay radom ewb chat https://gaychatspots.com/
omegle gay chat https://gaychatspots.com/
free gay sex chat apps https://gaychatcams.net/
gay chat aveneu https://gaychatcams.net/
chat gay vegas https://newgaychat.com/
gay webcam and chat https://newgaychat.com/
online casino no deposit free spin https://casinosonlinex.com/
san manuel casino online https://casinosonlinex.com/
online casino paysafecard 10€ https://online2casino.com/
online casino real money no deposit california https://online2casino.com/
firekeepers casino online https://onlinecasinos4me.com/
10 dollar minimum deposit usa online casino https://onlinecasinos4me.com/
find online dating https://onlinedatingservicesecrets.com/
single dating sites https://zonlinedating.com/
online dating meet https://virtual-online-dating-service.com/
top online sites https://freeadultdatingpasses.com/
dating sims https://lavaonlinedating.com/
on line dating services https://wowdatingsites.com/
free local singles login https://datingpersonalsonline.com/
date free website https://speedatingwebsites.com/
free daing https://online-internet-dating.net/
interracial dating https://adult-classifieds-online-dating.com/
free dating sites for single men and women https://adult-singles-online-dating.com/
date sex https://onlinedatingbabes.com/
sabrina carpenter boyfriend https://freephotodating.com/
dating advice for gay men https://datinggayservices.com/
gay dating long term relationship oriented guys into spanish https://gayedating.com/
gay dating app reviews https://gay-singles-dating.com/
cyberghost vpn free download https://rsvpnorthvalley.com/
best vpn for chrome https://free-vpn-proxy.com/
gaming vpn free https://superfreevpn.net/
best anonymous vpn service https://imfreevpn.net/
what is vpn connection https://ippowervpn.net/
free vpn server https://freehostingvpn.com/
vpn provider reviews https://shiva-vpn.com/
free vpn reddit https://freevpnconnection.com/
new online casino no deposit https://casino8online.com/
pa online casino no deposit bonus https://all-online-casino-games.com/
new online casino pa https://ownonlinecasino.com/
bet online casino https://onlineplayerscasino.com/
real cash online casino https://casino-online-jackpot.com/
free casino games online https://casino-online-roulette.com/
uk online casino https://vrgamescasino.com/
online casino real money michigan https://1freeslotscasino.com/
riversweeps online casino login page https://cybertimeonlinecasino.com/
golden nugget online casino nj https://internet-casinos-online.net/
best online casino deposit bonus https://free-online-casinos.net/
lucky creek online casino https://9lineslotscasino.com/
vegas casino online https://onlinecasinosdirectory.org/
online casino testen https://trust-online-casino.com/
pala online casino https://newlasvegascasinos.com/
bovada casino online https://onlinecasinofortunes.com/
online casino ca https://firstonlinecasino.org/
resorts online casino https://download-casino-slots.com/
buy a dissertation https://customthesiswritingservices.com/
dissertation proposal help https://dissertationhelperhub.com/
dissertation thesis writing https://dissertationhelpspecialist.com/
uf thesis and dissertation https://writingadissertationproposal.com/
dissertation help service https://customdissertationwritinghelp.com/
online edd no dissertation https://businessdissertationhelp.com/
phd dissertation https://bestdissertationwritingservice.net/
masters dissertation https://writing-a-dissertation.net/
best dissertation writing service uk https://examplesofdissertation.com/
how long is a dissertation paper https://accountingdissertationhelp.com/
dissertation chapters https://dissertationhelpexpert.com/
writing help https://dissertationwritingcenter.com/
dissertation editing https://helpwithdissertationwritinglondon.com/
dissertation search https://professionaldissertationwriting.com/
dissertation presentation https://professionaldissertationwriting.org/
3enamoured
2dejection
3peroration
3pedagogue
1inflated
2reflective
Comments are closed.