at a glance

in the past the absence of permanently stationed police forces made favelas a safe heaven for a variety of criminals, committing robberies and assaults in many more affluent areas around rio, including in landmark touristy destinations such as copacabana, ipanema, and leblon.

under mounting pressure from residents and further stimulated by the many upcoming international events, the city was forced to address the security problem of safety in and around favelas - they devised a new plan for the progressive invasion of these districts, the removal of the local drug lords, and the restoration of the peace and order by the polícia pacificadora - upp (pacification police).

The Pacifying Police Unit - UPP is one of the most important public safety programs conducted in Brazil in recent decades - Implemented by rio de janeiro Secretariat of Security in late 2008, the program was prepared on principles that go beyond community policing, and It's strategy is based on collaboration between the public and the institutions.