Rio de Janeiro municipalities implement security upgrades and report crime trends

Several municipalities in the state of Rio de Janeiro are implementing diverse public security measures. In Niterói, the city has launched a bidding process for a new two-story Municipal Guard unit in the city center near the João Goulart Bus Terminal to strengthen local policing.

Itaguaí is preparing a new Integrated Public Security Center at the site of a former private school. The project includes the installation of approximately 1,500 intelligent cameras with AI capabilities for license plate reading and person identification, alongside a 140% increase in police personnel. Operations are expected to begin in late 2026.

In Volta Redonda, official data from the Institute of Public Security (ISP-RJ) indicates a decline in crime rates from January to September 2026 compared to the previous year. Notable reductions include a 50% drop in thefts from public transport and a 40% decrease in robberies of commercial establishments. Violent crimes also saw declines, with intentional homicides falling by 22.8%.

Conversely, in Magé, lawmaker Vinicius Cozzolino has called for urgent police reinforcements, noting that the current force of approximately 320 agents is significantly below the planned 542. He highlighted the challenges faced by local units in combating drug trafficking and organized crime.