CONTINUED DECLINE IN MOST VIOLENT CRIME IN SAO PAULO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAO PAULO 000223 SIPDIS NSC FOR SCRONIN DEPT FOR INL, WHA/BSC, DS, DS/DSS, DS/DSS/IP, DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/IP/WHA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/FPO AND A/OPR/ALS A/OPR/ALS FOR CASSIE WASHINGTON POSTS FOR RSO, PSO, DHS, AND LEGATT SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PGOV ASEC PHUM ECON SNAR BR SUBJECT: CONTINUED DECLINE IN MOST VIOLENT CRIME IN SAO PAULO REF: A) 05 Sao Paulo 1408 AND PREVIOUS SAO PAULO 00000223 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Sao Paulo State Secretariat for Public Security released fourth quarter (October-December, 2005) crime statistics for the city of Sao Paulo, the Sao Paulo city outskirts, and the state as a whole. Statewide, violent crime decreased, including a marked decrease in homicide and attempted homicide. The city of Sao Paulo also showed a decline in most categories of violent crime in the fourth quarter of 2005 compared to the same period of 2004. End Summary. VIOLENT CRIME DOWN STATEWIDE -------------- ¶2. (U) The State Public Security Secretariat releases data quarterly on theft, drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, rape, homicide, robbery, extortion through kidnapping and many other crimes, including very minor offenses. Overall, 496,066 crimes were reported in the fourth quarter of 2005 in Sao Paulo state, compared with 503,154 in the same period in 2004, a decrease of approximately one percent. Most categories of violent crime fell. For example, in comparison with the last quarter of 2004, reports of premeditated homicide declined 18 percent statewide; robbery resulting in death, know as "latrocinio," 30 percent; and rape, 7 percent. Reported attempted homicide decreased by 20 percent. Most categories of reported theft and robbery decreased by approximately 4 to 7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2005 compared to the same period in 2004. In contrast to other categories of violent crime, kidnapping for ransom increased from 29 cases in the last quarter of 2004 to 41 cases in same period of 2005. CITY MURDERS CONTINUE TO DECLINE -------------- ¶3. (U) In the city of Sao Paulo, violent crime decreased in several categories in the fourth quarter of 2005 in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2004. Reports of premeditated homicide fell from 767 reported in the fourth quarter of 2004 to 569 in the fourth quarter of 2005, a decrease of 26 percent. There was also a 12 percent decline in the number of reported rapes committed in the city. "Latrocinio" cases fell from 24 cases in the fourth quarter of 2004 to 15 during the same period in 2005. Most categories of reported theft and robbery decreased by approximately 3 to 6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2005, compared to the same period of 2004. The number of reported kidnappings for ransom, however, rose, from 18 cases in the last quarter of 2004 to 22 cases in the same period of 2005. CRIME RATES HIGH FOR IMPOVERISHED OUTSKIRTS -------------- ¶4. (U) The outskirts of Sao Paulo City continued to experience a high number of serious crimes, though there were declines reported in several major categories of violent crime. Reported homicides decreased by 12 percent, from 545 cases in the fourth quarter of 2004 to 482 cases in the fourth quarter of 2005. Attempted homicide dropped by 18 percent, from 439 cases to 359 cases. Reported "latrocinio" declined slightly. All categories of theft and robbery decreased, with the exception of cargo robberies. However, as in the city and state, the number of kidnappings for ransom increased, from 6 reported cases in the fourth quarter of 2004 to 10 cases for the same period of 2005. ¶5. (U) Statewide, the State Secretariat for Public Security reported a dramatic 60 percent decline in the number of civilians killed by on-duty military police; 141 such cases were reported the fourth quarter of 2004, as compared to 56 reported in during the same period of 2005. On-duty civilian police killed 3 civilians in the fourth quarter of 2005, compared to 8 during the fourth quarter of ¶2005. Killings committed by off-duty civilian and military police also declined. (Comment: Killings of civilians by police officers represent one of Brazil's most serious and persistent human rights problems; it is unclear whether the reported decline reflects changing habits or a change in statistical methodology. End SAO PAULO 00000223 002.2 OF 002 comment.) CONSUL GENERAL MEETS WITH SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC SECURITY -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) On February 17, Consul General (CG) met with Sao Paulo State Secretary for Public Security Saulo de Castro Abreu Filho and his deputy, Marcelo Martins de Oliveira. The Secretary noted with satisfaction the significant decline in the homicide rate but did not attribute it to any single cause. CG and Abreu discussed continuing cooperation between ConGen Sao Paulo and law enforcement authorities on security-related matters. MCMULLEN