President Piñera unveils a video surveillance balloon and crime prevention measures in southern Santiago: “We want to give back to the families of Chile the right to live in peace”
The President has launched a new video surveillance system for the Santiago districts of Puente Alto and La Pintana and announced a new homicide brigade for the southern part of the city, as well as police officers to fight micro drug trafficking and more preventative measures on the streets and at high traffic areas such as bus stops and metro stations. He has also announced that he is submitting a bill to punish those who participate in public acts of disorderly conduct with their faces covered by masks or hoods.
On Friday, President Sebastián Piñera announced new measures to combat crime in southern Santiago. They include the launch of an aerostatic video surveillance balloon that can cover the municipalities of Puente Alto and La Pintana and the installation of a new homicide brigade with over 80 specialized detectives.
The video surveillance system operated by the Policia de Investgaciones (Investigations Police) could prevent criminal activity and provide evidence of the crimes that it detects. It can also be moved in order to target areas or municipalities that require this kind of support.
The balloon discourages crime and this was reflected in the decrease in offenses with significant social importance achieved using this tool in the municipality of Lo Barnechea, which saw a 77% decrease in armed robberies and a 62% drop in vehicle theft.
In addition, the new homicide brigade will have 80 specialized detectives and will allow the government to optimize and reduce response times in investigations and more quickly identify criminals and the areas in which they act.
“We want to give back to Chilean households and families their right to live in peace and to make life increasingly difficult for criminals,” President Piñera remarked at a ceremony held in the municipality of Puente Alto. He was accompanied by Interior Minister Andrés Chadwick, Crime Prevention Undersecretary Katherine Martorell and Metropolitan Regional Governor Karla Rubilar.
The President also announced a new team from the Zero Microtrafficking program designed to fight the groups that operate in the southern part of Santiago, thus benefiting residents of priority neighborhoods in the municipalities of El Bosque, La Pintana, Puente Alto, San Bernardo and Lo Espejo.
The deployment of more police agents will also get underway. They will be placed preventatively and visibly in high traffic areas such as metro stations and bus stops. Their focus will be Puente Alto, La Florida and La Cisterna in the southern part of Santiago, but they can also be deployed to other areas.
“This war is not easy and has never been easy, but we will fight relentlessly and will give no quarter,” President Piñera said.
The President also announced that next week he will submit a bill to punish individuals who engage in public acts of disorderly conduct while hiding their faces with masks or hoods.
“We don’t want masked people in Chile, and we have to be very clear about which side we are on. We welcome people who wish to express themselves while protesting with their faces visible, as is customary in Chile, but we do not want and we will not tolerate the cowardice and turpitude of those who do so wearing hoods to hide their identity while they violate the most sacred things in our lives,” the President said.