DURANGO, Durango
(SUN)
The main weaknesses with security forces and their
performance in Mexico are low wages and little training,
recognized the National Director of Crime Prevention
and Citizen Participation, Laura Carrera Lugo.
The federal functionary indicated that the budgets
allocated to the municipalities to meet security were
very modest. However, the budgets depended on the formulas
employed by Congress.
Presently Lugo is working on resources for 2012, analysing
criteria, and is in negotiations. In a few weeks the
new rules of operation will be made available.
Next week there will be a meeting of the National Council
of Public Security (CNSP) where new arrangements for
the disbursement of resources will be adopted and the
budgets for the States and municipalities will be defined.
When questioned on what has been said by some mayors,
in the sense that there is little resources allocated,
Lugo argued that each municipality's Chamber of Deputies
must be able to manage resources, request them when
the amount should be greater for public safety, and
also know how to use the money.
According to the statement made by the federal official,
in order for citizens to regain confidence in the police,
it is important to work on new models where they are
in closer proximity to communities.
"It is now necessary to generate greater confidence
between police, authorities and agents, and the public,"
she noted.
However, she pointed out that work is still focused
on evaluating individual police officers, but stated
that it is also crucial to train them and enable them
with a series of tools that allow them to get closer
to citizens.