Uruguay and Public Security O.A.S. Ministry of Interior Prevention Strategies Inter -American Specialized Conference on Public Security O.A.S. Ministry of Interior Montevideo, August 4th, 2009

Some basic facts about Uruguay

Population: 3.340.000 Unemployment: 7,5% Unemployment under 25 years: 23,1% Inflation: 8,8% Poverty: 20,5%

Children in poverty: 39,4% Adolescents in poverty: 37,3% Extreme poverty:1,5% Average monthly income per capita: U$S 378 Average monthly income of homes: U$S 1.066

Key indicators of criminality

% of Victimization: 30% Homicide rate: 6,6 per 100.000 inhab. Robbery rate: 31,9 per 100.000 inhab. Rate of Domestic Violence: 37,2 per 100.000 inhab. % of non-denouncement (offences not reported to police): 35 %

Public insecurity and fear

Security viewed as the main problem of the country. Very high percentage of perceived increase in crime. Perception of insecurity linked to three basic factors: Real victimization. Negative perception of Police performance. People of low and middle-low socioeconomic status.

Institutional Resources

A structure of Ministry of Interior as a functional equivalent of police. There are a total of 28.000 officers: 848 per 100.000 inhab; 1 police every 118 inhab. There are 13.000 officers in preventive security tasks: 394 per 100.000 inhab; 1 police per 254 hab.

Public opinion level of trust in the police: High (15%); Some (38%). Prision system depends on the police at all levels of management. Numbers of inmates: 8.300. Rate of inmates: 252 per 100.000 inhab.

Reform processes and prevention strategies

Transformation and strenghening of the Ministry of Interior in its role of leadership of the security policy. Centrality of basic and professional training for the police Investment in high-tech security. Strategies of citizen participation, community control and preventive patrolling.

Cabinet technical-political and information systems New management structure at the level of: administration, infrastructure, logistics, technology. Area of institutional policy and strategic planning Information systems development. Indicators of contexts, processes and outcomes.

The strengthening of police training The centrality of the training of junior staff. Infrastructure, teaching staff and curricula, aimed at the creation of technical skills. Reforms in the curricula for the training of the police officers.

High-tech for Security New high-tech systems for security and to improve emergency response. Projects in the areas of data transmission, power sources, Unified Command Response Center, Prision Management System, Video Surveillance System, Migration Control System.

Local officers for community liaison and citizen security Social prevention programs promoted trough community based partneships. Situational prevention for the recovery of public spaces. Support for improvement in the provision of police services. RM00040E