Crime index drops 18% in Rio de Janeiro

The state of Rio de Janeiro recorded 760 cases of intentional homicide in the first quarter of this year, which means a drop of 18 percent compared to the same period in 2021. According to the Public Security Institute (ISP), these are the lowest numbers in the last 31 years. The index dropped by the same percentage in March when 256 cases were noted.

Other crimes against life also decreased in the first quarter, such as the combination of robbery and homicide. From January to March, 14 cases have been registered, and 32 in the first three months of 2021. According to the ISP, this is the lowest number for the period since 1991.

Among cases of violent lethality, which include intentional homicide, bodily harm followed by homicide, robbery followed by homicide, and homicide through state agent intervention, a decrease of 23 percent has been recorded. In the first quarter of this year, 1,099 victims were registered, and in March 386 cases, which represents a drop of 21 percent. These were the lowest records for this month since 1991.

Another significant decrease was in the number of deaths due to state agent intervention. The data show a 30 percent decline in the period reaching 318 deaths. In March, 123 cases were noted, a fall of 22 percent.

For the director-president of the Public Security Institute Marcela Ortiz, the positive results of public security in the state are not trivial. “Besides the crimes against life, which are regularly reaching the best numbers, crimes against property follow the same path. The data reinforce the importance of an integrated work of the police,” she said.

Governor Cláudio Castro pointed out that once again crimes against life have recorded a reduction, some with the lowest results in more than 30 years. “This is a consequence of the work being carried out by the Civil and Military Police, with the reinforcement of the Security Present Program. We work to achieve a reduction in all indicators,” he added.

According to ISP, the data released are based on records made by Civil Police stations in the state of Rio de Janeiro.