More Police in Downtown
San José; Legislators
Approve More Money To
Combat Crime
The new ministra de
Seguridad Janina del
Vecchio and the mayor of
San José, Johnny Araya,
jointly announced the
budget approval of more
police officers that
will be deployed in the
street of downtown San
José in an effort to
combat crime in the
downtown core.
The new unit called the
"Unidad Policial
Metropolitana" made up
of 150 officers will be
on the downtown streets
beginning May 8.
The announcement is good
news for the thousands
in the downtown core who
feel threatened by
crime.
Del Vecchio stressed the
importance of
co-operation between the
Fuerza Pública and
municipal police forces
to offer better
security.
"We are offering a
police presence in the
downtown core, so that
the pedestrian
boulevards are given
back to the citizens",
said Del Vecchio.
Araya explained that the
special police unit will
focus mainly in the
areas between Avenids 3
and 6 and Calles 11 and
14, the Parque Morazán,
the Parque Nacional and
the Parque Cental.
Jorge Rojas, director of
the OIJ - the
investigating branch of
the judicial system -
confirmed 450 assaults
and 202 vehicle thefts
monthly, 60% of which
occurr in the downtown
core.
In addition to the new
police unit, legislators
earlier in the week
approved ¢15 billion
colones more for
combating crime, ¢10
billion of which will go
to the Poder Judicial. |
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