Bogotá mayor Samuel Moreno defended his security policy Tuesday before Congress that criticized him for letting security in the capital slip. Moreno disagrees and reiterates that Bogotá is Latin America's fourth safest city.
The Polo Democrático mayor's come under fierce criticism by the coalition in Congress, because of rising crime rates and an increased sense of insecurity among citizens of the capital.
"The insecurity situation in Bogotá indicates that we are walking backwards. We are returning to the years that the people weren't able to cross the street without being attacked," House Representative for Bogotá David Luna said.
"Between 1993 and 2006, Bogotá witnessed a continuous reduction of homicide rates, going from 60 murders per 100,000 inhabitants to 18,8 murders per the same number of people. During the administration of mayor Samuel Moreno the situation has reversed completely: The murderrate rose 4.6% and went from 18.8 to 19.2 between 2007 and 2008 (...)Robberies saw a 36.61 increase in the first half of 2008. The number of psysical assaults rose 2.17% during the same period and the number of sex crimes rose 39.9%," the Representative added.
Moreno defended his policy saying Bogotá is Latin America's fourth safest city and that "there is a compromise between this administration and all organisms of the State to guarantee the security of those living in the capital."
The mayor added his administration invested 1.2 trillion (US$467 million) in security during his four years as mayor and highlighted the intervention in 31 areas in the city, where the municipality is working to improve the quality of life.
