Rio: Violent deaths fall 15%; number of victims is the lowest since 1991.

By Ana Cristina Campos, reporter for Agência Brasil - In January, the violent death rate in the state of Rio de Janeiro fell by 15% compared to the same month in 2023. The indicator, which includes intentional homicide, bodily injury followed by death, robbery followed by death, and death by intervention of state agents, showed the lowest number of victims since 1991, when the series from the Institute of Public Security (ISP) began.

"It is important to highlight that deaths resulting from intervention by state agents fell by 45% in the same period – the lowest number of deaths since 2016. Intentional homicides also registered a decrease – 3% – the lowest number of victims since 1991," says the ISP.

Crimes against property, such as cargo and street robberies, also declined in January. Cargo robberies fell by 34%. There were 205 cases, 107 fewer robberies compared to January 2023. This was the lowest number of occurrences since 1999. Also in January, street robberies (theft of cell phones, robbery of pedestrians, and robbery on public transport) showed a decrease, registering the lowest number of cases since 2005.

Weapons collected - Each day, 15 firearms were seized from criminals – two rifles every 24 hours. In addition, the Civil and Military Police arrested 3.430 people in the act in January and recorded 1.916 drug seizures during the same period.

“When we analyze that crimes involving violent deaths and cargo theft are showing consecutive decreases, month after month, we conclude that our security forces are doing an excellent job. These results are the fruit of the integration between the Civil and Military Police and the Public Security Secretariat,” said the CEO of ISP, Marcela Ortiz.