Costa Rica’s Peaceful Image Under Threat: Government Develops Innovative Crime Prevention Strategies
As Costa Rica celebrates its 70th anniversary without an army, the country is facing a growing threat to its peaceful reputation. Despite being a beacon of peace in Central America since abolishing its armed forces in 1948, Costa Rica has seen a steady rise in murder rates since 2013.
A Growing Threat
The country recorded a record high number of homicides last year, with an estimated death toll of 625, and 2018 is shaping up to be even deadlier. This surge in violent crime, including multiple murders of tourists, has prompted the government to adopt innovative and effective security strategies.
Government Response
In response to the growing threat, President Carlos Alvarado has implemented a new security strategy based on a public security program that has been successful in Medellín, Colombia. The United States government has invested $7.5 million in the plan, which focuses on citizen participation to identify the most pressing security concerns.
“Creating Security” Program
The “Creating Security” (Sembremos Seguridad) program, launched in September, encourages citizens to report security issues and provides social investment or police action to address them. Comprehensive data collection will allow the government to target security strategies specifically to each municipality, facilitating a more effective distribution of resources.
Key Features
- Encourages citizen participation to identify security concerns
- Provides social investment or police action to address reported issues
- Collects comprehensive data to target security strategies
- Focuses on building security foundations from the ground up
Impact on Tourism
The uptick in violence threatens to impact one of Costa Rica’s major sources of revenue - tourism. A wave of gruesome murders targeting tourists may significantly affect Costa Rica’s tourism industry, which represented almost seven percent of the country’s GDP in 2017 and generates around 211,000 jobs annually. The number of visitors from the United States dropped for the first time in a decade last year due to security concerns.
Conclusion
As the government continues to grapple with the crime crisis, its commitment to a citizen-focused security plan suggests a determination to tackle organized crime without resorting to aggressive tactics. By building security foundations from the ground up and integrating local strategies with federal plans, Costa Rica may be able to retain its peaceful image and restore confidence in its ability to address crime.