The Police are one of the most feared and powerful organisations in Mexico, a group whose members seem far beyond the law.
Plainclothes detectives with the Procuraduría General de la República (Office of the Attorney General), are responsible for investigating and prosecuting federal crimes. But the force solves nearly zero cases. They are hampered by officers from rival police departments, many of which provide protection to drug cartels or run their own criminal operations. If police raid a “narco store” in the wrong part of town, they risk being shot or thrown in jail by fellow detectives.
Public distrust of the police has reached paralyzing levels and an almost total collapse of law and order in recent months has created a terrifying state of affairs. Much of the evidence is anecdotal, but it is said that 99 per cent of crimes in Mexico go unpunished.
Recently, a study declared that Mexico now has a worse kidnapping rate than Iraq, with three or four hostages taken each day. It is a lucrative trade, with scouts looking for new wealthy victims by attending high society events or joining social networking websites.
Mexicans have tolerated kidnappings for many years, but the sheer number of them in recent months, combined with the allegation that police officers were involved in the capture and murder of a 14-year-old boy, has shocked the country. The police have too much power, are arrogant, never follow the rules, torture people, and act with impunity. The corruption is huge and a destroyer of hope.
Mexico City is an apocalyptically dysfunctional place at the best of times, what with the pollution, the flooding, the teetering concrete slums, and the city sinking into the lake bed upon which it was built. Now the fear is turning into anger.
Amid the political chaos, however, it is not clear where change will come from. The Mayor of Mexico City, Marcelo Ebrard, does not even recognise the authority of President Calderón after a disputed election two years ago. And Mr Calderón's use of the military against the drug cartels has worsened the situation, causing extreme poverty and more crime in rural areas dependent on drug-trafficking for income.
Source: Agencies
Chris Ayres in Mexico City
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