The State of Rio de Janeiro Public Security Secretary, José Mariano Beltrame, the Head of the Civil Police, Martha Rocha, and the Military Police Commander –General, Colonel Erir Ribeiro Costa Filho, met with senior members of the Organising Committee for the Rio 2016™ Olympic and Paralympic Games including CEO Sidney Levy in order to further strengthen institutional ties among the parties.

Beltrame and the other public security government agents were introduced to Committee members at the new Rio 2016™ and Municipal Olympic Company (EOM in Portuguese) headquarters in Cidade Nova, Rio de Janeiro, and were pleased with the progress made during the talks.

“They were here in order to get to know the Organising Committee’s new headquarters and to make strategic adjustments to the operational planning. It was an important visit, aimed at optimising the institutional relations between Rio 2016™ and all the State Public Security Institutions, with the aim of establishing efficient channels of communication and a full understanding of the Games demands”, summarised Luis Fernando Corrêa, Rio 2016™ Security Director, who hosted the visitors.

Police Chief Martha Rocha, the first woman to hold this position, praised the meeting. “It was a nice opportunity to get to know the Committee’s new headquarters as well as to understand the need to have a Civil Police member inside the Committee from the start”, said Martha who also highlighted: “All the work done here is planned. We have the opportunity to test and therefore reduce risks during completion.”
 

CEO of the Rio 2016™, Sidney Levy, talks to Secretary Beltrame and director of security for the Games, Luiz Fernando Corrêa, before the meeting (Lucas Freitas/Rio 2016™)Integrated Security Plans

The Games Security Plan is an Integrated Action Plan, operationalized by the three government levels (Federal, State and Municipal). According to Beltrame, this integration exercise will be one of the Olympic Games greatest legacies not only to Rio de Janeiro but to the whole country.

“The city’s security planning is not aimed at great events such as the World Cup and the Olympic Games, it serves the citizens”, said Beltrame, 55 years old and from the State of Rio Grande do Sul. “I believe that the integration exercise shared by the three government levels and the population, and not the equipment, will be the great Olympic Games legacy”.

The Rio de Janeiro Public Security Plan has two priorities: the Pacifying Police Units (UPPs in Portuguese), for the favelas, and the Public Security Integrated Regions for the rest of the city. Changes in Rio de Janeiro security policies started since the Rio 2007 Pan American Games. The first UPP was officially created in 2008, in Dona Marta favela, located in Botafogo neighbourhood. In 2014, there will be 40 UPPs.

“These two priorities make the drop in criminality levels ever more solid. People are starting to realise this but, I believe now they specifically see a public security concept.  We’ve been obtaining very encouraging results”, said Beltrame.

Cariocas’ and visitors’ have been experiencing an increased sense of security, according to the most recent research. According to them, 74% of the population feels safer today than in 2008; 93% of residents from UPP pacified areas approve the project; 83% of Rio’s population is favourable to a public security plan and 98% of visitors that went to a pacified favela thought it was a positive experience. Furthermore, there was a 16% drop in tourist theft. 392 cameras all over town make the task easier, and another 58 will be installed in the metropolitan region.

The pursuit for security excellence before, during and after the Olympic Games is a public bodies’ commitment. The Rio 2016™ Organising Committee actively participates in its planning, which will be carried out by the three government bodies and is considered fundamental so that everyone involved in the event will have an unforgettable participation.

“Events such as the Olympic Games bring great changes to a city’s daily routine. We need to be an easy partner and not a burden. It’s important to emphasize that the relations between the parties couldn’t be better. They are based on mutual respect”, said Luiz Fernando Corrêa, Rio 2016™ Security Director.