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The headline is a bit misleading. Less than 6% of favelas are occupied by police. Specifically, only ~40 of the 750+ favelas in Rio were selected to receive 'Pa

The headline is a bit misleading. Less than 6% of favelas are occupied by police. Specifically, only ~40 of the 750+ favelas in Rio were selected to receive 'Pacifying Police Units' (UPPs). The UPP project began in 2008 and - from my conversations with several people living in favelas - was part of a larger effort to improve living conditions, which it has to an extent; some favelas now have basic sewage systems, for example. However, the police presence was seen as ineffective and the project disingenuous in that it was inspired by the desire to make Rio a stronger attraction to tourists during the World Cup rather than by the concern for the welfare of people living in favelas. Additionally, the relationship between law enforcement and residents was also quite crooked. The Guardian reports that "80% of Brazilians are afraid of being tortured by their own police force," but the study was conducted by Amnesty International. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/18/brazil-favelas-big-trouble-world-cup-marketing-police-abuse-killings-security http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/18/brazil-... Last, I can't imagine policing in favelas to be an easy job. When I visited a pacified favela, the police unit walls were lined (50+) with large bullet holes.

Giulalbez 12y ago
> but the study was conducted by Amnesty International. Why the "but" in that sentence? I would say 99% of people in the favela I grew up are afraid of the police at some degree, and would prefer to meet an armed gangster in a dark alley to meet a group of policeman, for sure! > I can't imagine policing in favelas to be an easy job The police is unequipped, undertrained, underpaid and badly managed. Most of the military policeman are from the lower classes too, therefore lacking a good education since childhood. Is hard. Sometimes they bring the Army with heavy weaponry and occupy the place for a while, but this is not a long-term solution.
- vincentbarr 12y ago
  I used 'but' to call attention to the group conducting the research as I feel that's important for context and full disclosure when referencing a study. My intention was not to discredit the research or Amnesty International.

Giulalbez 12y ago

> but the study was conducted by Amnesty International. Why the "but" in that sentence? I would say 99% of people in the favela I grew up are afraid of the police at some degree, and would prefer to meet an armed gangster in a dark alley to meet a group of policeman, for sure! > I can't imagine policing in favelas to be an easy job The police is unequipped, undertrained, underpaid and badly managed. Most of the military policeman are from the lower classes too, therefore lacking a good education since childhood. Is hard. Sometimes they bring the Army with heavy weaponry and occupy the place for a while, but this is not a long-term solution.

vincentbarr 12y ago
I used 'but' to call attention to the group conducting the research as I feel that's important for context and full disclosure when referencing a study. My intention was not to discredit the research or Amnesty International.