Homicides in Chile climb almost 30% in the first half of 2022

Chilean police officers in the Plaza de Armas, Santiago. IVAN ALVARADO (Reuters)

Chile is experiencing its worst moment in terms of security since the return to democracy.

This has been described by the Undersecretary for Crime Prevention.

In the first half of 2022, the number of homicides soared 28.7% compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching a total of 413, according to figures from the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI), to which this year had access. Tuesday Radio Biobío.

The statistics show a decrease in minor crimes such as surprise robbery, but a significant increase in the use of firearms in crimes: between January and June 2021 they were used in 166 homicides, while this 2022 reached 256.

The Government of President Gabriel Boric announced a couple of weeks ago a National Security Plan that includes, among thirty measures, the creation of the Ministry of Security, a reform of the police and the strengthening of the municipalities in this area.

Work is already underway on a strategy for the relocation and incorporation of Carabineros agents in the most critical sectors, in addition to the "less weapons, more security" plan, which aims to reduce the number of weapons on the illegal market and "interrupt the flow of legally registered weapons.

The perception of security has also worsened.

The last three years have been the highest records recorded by the Citizen Peace Foundation, which since 2000 has carried out measurement systems to measure the impact of crimes.

The survey they published last year reveals that in three out of every 10 households at least one person had been the victim of robbery or attempted robbery.

The international pollster Gallup published the

study at the end of 2021 , which measures the perception of security in 115 countries.

Chile scored 66 out of 100, as did Zimbabwe.

Only 41% of the surveyed population feel safe walking alone, placing the country in seventh place with the lowest percentage.

In Mexico it is 42%.

The Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Iskia Siches, explained before the Senate at the end of June that during the pandemic crimes decreased, but that since the lifting of mobility restrictions they began to see an increase.

“From January to date they fell again, despite the perception of the population.

We recognize that the figures for firepower in the case of homicides grew by 60% and we are focused on this,” said the minister, according to the transcript on the Senate website.

The government held its first National Security Council in the northern region of Arica and Parinacota, one of the areas most affected by organized crime.

Raúl Arancibia, regional prosecutor for Tarapacá, a territory that borders Bolivia, about 1,800 kilometers north of Santiago, described the situation in the

as "very worrying", and that, if concrete actions are not taken, it could become "truly dramatic".

In his region, where almost 70% of the drugs entering the country are seized, the profile of criminals has changed.

In 2010, only 6% of those accused were foreigners, a figure that rose to 29% last year.

Arancibia warned that, although robberies have decreased, violent crimes have increased "considerably", especially homicides, due to "the greater existence of firearms in the hands of criminals."

The complex scenario, he maintained, has been endorsed by drug trafficking, smuggling and the smuggling of migrants.

"When we talk about criminal gangs they are mainly international," he said.

In general, the typography of crimes has changed in recent years.

If in 2015 about 70% of homicides had a defendant known by the neighbors or relatives of the victim, now the percentage is practically the reverse, according to the Fundación Paz Ciudadana.

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