UPP, social UPP and local associations

The Units of Pacifying Police, which were developed as a new security policy in Rio de Janeiro, have been successful in disarming traffickers and re-conquering territories dominated by the latter beforehand. Nevertheless, some issues have appeared that point to the structuring of the Military Police Force in Brazil and the ethos or practical logics of their new policemen supposedly prepared to confront the new challenges of the UPPs. In order to gain the neighbours’ support, military policemen have been involved in teaching sports and music to children and adolescents in favelas of the richest part of Rio de Janeiro. Even in those where dozens of NGOs and long-standing neighbourhood voluntary associations have been doing this job. Complaints about marginalization of the latter’s work with children and youths as well as criticisms on the military methods employed by policemen in their training activities constitute a major obstacle for the acceptance of this new policy in the city. Although it is said that governmental officials would listen firstly to the local dwellers and their communitarian leaders, a further difficulty in their dialogue has increased the consolidation of UPPs. Trafficking continues and the threat of corruption is still present in the pacified favelas.