Standing Ovation for Costa Rica’s Ministry of Public Security

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After recent warnings to foreigners visiting Costa Rica about an increase in both petty and serious crime, comes an announcement to be applauded.

On Tuesday Michael Soto, Minister of Public Security (Public Police Force), announced that between May 2018 and May 2019, his security forces have succeeded in the following arrests and seizures of goods:
~ 2,160 people arrested, up 16%
~ 233 firearms confiscated, up 5%
~ 85 motorcycles used in crimes confiscated, down 2%
~ drug seizures (cocaine, crack, marijuana), up 16%, cocaine seizures especially strong
~ murder rates down slightly
~ petty thefts down 26%
These results represent an almost complete turnabout from December of 2018. That month was Costa Rica’s most violent month in the entire history of the country, including four femicides (homicide of a woman, usually by her partner), in the first five days of December. International Security Analyst Paul Chaves of the Center for Criminology and Security Training declared in August of 2018 that “Costa Rica’s security situation is in a total free fall.”
Then Minister Michael Soto took charge in April 2018, and reacted forcefully to turn things around, with an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to the crisis. Soto declared, “Believe me, we are trying our hardest to resolve the situation. I am not proud to say that we have reached a point where even vice ministers now go out on criminal patrol”.
When asked about the crime rates of Costa Rica, both violent and nonviolent, James Dyde of central america.com responded, “The honest answer is that Costa Rica is part of Central America and Central America is one of the most dangerous regions on earth. Now, Costa Rica is one of the safest parts of Central America, but it is still in the neighborhood, and no one should sugarcoat that.”
Against this background, it is especially encouraging that Costa Rica is moving in all the right directions to get a handle on the crime situation. Given recent drops in tourist activity — due allegedly to fear of crime – it is not a moment too soon to get a handle on crime, and drop the statistics even lower.
Both the Canadian and US Embassies have helpful tips on their websites on how to avoid crime in Costa Rica. The information is thorough, and well worth looking over, whether you live here or are visiting.
A round of applause for Minister Soto and his staff. Let’s hope that the crime situation will improve even more in the coming year. Costa Rica: Safe and Super.
 

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