Security in Mexico City

Corruption and the Police 

The main detraction of Mexico City is its crime. Street muggings and kidnappings top the list as the most common crimes. Murders are not as significant of a problem. On average around 2.5 people per day are murdered, which, given the size of the population, is relatively few. To put it into context, Washington, D.C. has a murder rate per capita around 5 times higher.

If you do become a victim of a crime, a natural inclination is to turn to the police for help. However, the history of the Mexican police force is more complex than is often found in other countries. Low wages have lead to a crippling corruption problem, starting with the officer of the most basic post and continuing all the way up through the ranks. This article explains the type of police officers you may encounter in Mexico, and addresses the effect corruption has had on the police force.

The Police

There are four types of local street law enforcement officers. These include traffic cops (brown uniforms), the preventive police (blue uniforms) and the two police forces that can be hired as guards, the Auxiliary Police ("Policia Auxiliar") and the Bank and Industry Police ("Policia Bancaria e Industrial"). Altogether they number over 90,000 officers (more than Canada's army) and are by far the largest police force in the city. They generally circulate in the traditional blue and white squad cars (mostly Chevrolet Cavaliers and Malibus). All of these officers can arrest people only if they have actually witnessed a crime take place. They have no authority to perform investigations. That is the job of the Judicial Police ("Policia Judicial del Distrito Federal").

The judicial police officers are much more frightening and dangerous, if they are corrupt. The officers usually wear plain clothes and drive around in white sedans (Malibus, Cavaliers, Pontiac Sunfires, Dodge Stratus, or old Chrysler Spirits) with "PGJDF" signs on the doors. They usually don't get involved with the general population, but you shouldn't get in their way. In fact, avoid them altogether, unless you need to report a crime.

Corruption: "La Mordida" Style

Most police officers are not bad people. Some are even trustworthy. Yet they are also not very vigilant regarding traffic violations, especially compared to U.S. and European standards. Abroad you can be sure you will be pulled over for such  "inoffensive" (in the Mexican perspective) offenses as speeding.

If you are pulled over, there is a very good chance that the officer will suggest that you avoid the hassle of going "down to the station" ("a la delegacion") by paying him a modical sum ("una modica suma"). The going rate is about $100 pesos for running a red light, making an incorrect turn, or something similarly uneventful. They might see your bewildered face and ask for more. Don't give them more than $200 pesos - it will only invite abuse.

The government of the Federal District is trying to place more of the blame for street corruption on the general population, saying that, by offering bribes, it is inducing this kind of behavior.

By Mario Gonzalez-Roman, a retired Foreign Service National Security Advisor to the United States Embassy, currently a private Security Consultant, columnist at www.securitycornermexico.com

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