São Paulo governor: Public safety improvements take time to be perceived

São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas acknowledged that public safety improvements are slow to register with the populace, even as his administration points to falling crime statistics. "This improvement is not perceived, it takes time to be perceived," Freitas stated on Monday, his first day of campaigning for re-election.

Freitas, who is seeking another term, said that while the percentage of people feeling insecure in the state has dropped from 56% in 2022 to 46% currently, the government must still address crimes that directly impact citizens' sense of security. He specifically mentioned cell phone thefts and specialized groups targeting vehicle theft as areas needing continued focus.

"When a citizen buys that cell phone with this interest rate, on credit, and it's stolen, that citizen suffers and we suffer with them. So, that's what must guide our public safety action," he declared. Freitas proposed increasing state financial aid to municipal civil guards to enhance integration with the Military Police, allowing guards to handle certain incidents while the PM focuses on specialized operations.

He also plans to fund municipal camera installations and integrate them with the Muralha Paulista system. The governor aims to expand the use of artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and automated license plate reading to identify stolen vehicles and wanted individuals. Freitas identified criminal recidivism as a major obstacle to effective security policy.