We carry mace in teh car and with our persons. We've never used it, but we have it. Runs counter to boboqui's excellent advice, but makes us feel better.

...Crime rate in Rio continues to decline -

Murder rate in Rio reaches 20-year low. Murder rate in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state reached a 20-year low in the first half of 2010, the state's security chief announced Wednesday.

In the first six months of this year, 2,566 murders were registered in the state, a drop of 20 percent compared to the first half of 2009. The 2010 figures represent a rate of 15 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, the lowest since 1991.

Lower crime figures are attributedto the public security policy implemented in the state a year ago. Increased investments in the police, the implementation of Peacemaking Police Units in several shanty towns which were controlled by drug dealers, and the rise in the number of arrests led to the decrease in murders.

http://english.cntv.cn/20100805/102764.shtml

Rgs,

It is also good to know that the vast majority of murders and other violent crime in Rio are drug-related and are often between warring factions or their facilitators. The highly publicised police and seemingly political violence often turns of to have a drug role. Thus staying away from drugs is a good way to minimise your odds of violence personally.

Because I have made several posts here and elsewhere suggesting that fears of danger in Rio are overblown please believe the following:

Do not go out at night this weekend or next in Rio (25 Nov to about 5 Dec). Last night there was an attack inside Shopping Leblon, the swankiest in Zona Sul, and there is a major war between the police and drug gangs that has killed dozens in the last couple fo weeks. If you stay in a hotel now do NOT stay in the Sheraton Leblon which is backed by a favela, Vidigal, that is a locus of conflict. Stay inside at night and do not go on a nighttime tour. The conditions are bad, and it is a battle for control.

This should die down rapidly, but until it does, be very, very careful. If anybody is in Rio now and does not have good info, read the papers. if you've no Portuguese and need advice PM me and I'll try to help.

God, I hate to make a post like this.

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/fotogaleria/2010/13155/
So sad.

The only time I get nervous in Rio is on the drive from gig to the city. Although most of my family won't ever travel with me because of the things they hear.

And here is part of a message from the US Consulate in Rio...

This is sad. I'm headed down to Rio for five days. Hopefully, there will be a very good police presence. There often is in Ipanema and Leblon. But the drive from/to the airport is a little scary given what traffic came be like.

There most definitely will be plenty of police presence. For the last few days there have been hordes of them everywhere. Yesterday i was on Avenida Niemayer between Leblon and Sao Conrado and every few cars was a police car. Shopping Leblon is surrounded by police. I had a meeting at GIG this AM and the entire route back to Jardim Botanico was heavily policed.

The problems are clearly most acute closest to disputed favelas but that is really not quite enough. For once I am happy to have a 'carro blindado'.

That's not true.

It all started last Sunday...

Why on earth would you say that? Nothing happened there.

If you are not ready to stick to what's really happening, then you really should abstain from it.

I believe that there has been one incident in Copocabana (? a car burnt out) but it appears from the reports that most of the trouble has been in the Zona Norte.

Is there any feeling in Rio that once the Complexo do Alemao is under control the focus of the security forces might move to the favelas closer to the tourist areas eg Vidigal and Rocinha?

I'm am at the IC at present but apart from the beaches seeming to be very quiet for a sunny Sunday I haven't noted any problems. The IC shuttle passes the Sheraton below Vidigal but i can't say that I have felt at all threatened passing through.

I have to say that the film of cars stopped coming out of Alemao with boots full of cocaine, firearms and grenades are somewhat impressive.Hopefully the hoped for long-term improvement in the lives of the inhabitants of the favelas will be worth the short-term pain..

With this we both agree.

The good news about all this is the Federal commitment is strong and the determination to root out these criminals, we're calling them terrorists in some official circles, is far more convincing than it has been before.

I do not want to argue these points with anybody, especially a fellow resident of Rio.

Still, an abundance of caution is better than too little. there has not been too much traffic out in the last couple of days and restaurants have been more easily available, even last night when I got a prime time last minute reservation at my favorite spot when usually I cannot do that. That suggests a good many residents are also exercising more caution than normal.

There have been comments by Beltrame in recent days that make it clear he intends to focus on Rocinha once the current action is consolidated. he also warned the criminals away from any attempt to go there. Thus there is good reason to expect that Rocinha will get the continuing attention that it needs, and that strong attention to the protection of residents of Gavea and Sao Conrado si on it's way. As fro Vidigal, it is less of a problem, for sure, but it will not be left alone, not with Avenida Niemeyer to protect.

The preceding paragraph is my personal view, based in part on recent interviews quoted in the press, partly from discussion with some usually well-informed friends.

I am more optimistic right now that I have been in my 32 years around the city, even though I expect a few very difficult times while the situation is improving.

Just now Beltrame was on TV in which he announced that the force was in Alemao to stay and that after Rocinha, and then Vidigal were to follow. So my preceding post is no longer my opinion, it is his statement.

O Globo reports this morning that Rocinha drug traffickers are constructing barriers and preparing for battle. The government is planning an invasion of Rocinha to take place imminently.

Press and popular reports are hugely supportive of the government actions, and much is made of the history of Alemao that has not been under government control "since 1994". Everyone cautions not to declare victory and federal support is promised "indefinitely" but the tone of public and private comment today is extremely optimistic.

If the optimism proves to be justified maybe the title of this thread may eventually change to "formerly dangerous Rio". It will not be immediate, that is for certain.

I would like to voice my support for what the Brazilian authorities are doing to root out the cancer that today thrives in some of these Favelas. While in the short term there will be some bad publicity and some weary tourists may reconsider visiting, the long term benefits will far outweigh anything negative that will come with the current actions.

Also, I think its important to not get caught into the zoom lens vision that some TV and mass media reporting can convey.... one has to see the big picture, and for this, I think that the on the ground reports from the resident FTers is the best information one can get. Again, Im confident that the Brazilian security forces, backed by a Government that has shown its capability to lead a country in the right direction, will ultimatetly win this war and ensure that Rio and Brazil not only host a great World Cup and Olympic Games, but more importantly once again become the world tourist capital that is has to be.

Cheers from Buenos Aires,
Gaucho100K