Hardline policing fails against Latam gangs -study (Reuters)

[Eugene]

Hardline policing fails against Latam gangs -study
08 Feb 2007 20:27:04 GMT
Source: Reuters

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Heavy-handed police tactics against youth gangs in Central
America have failed to reduce their criminal activity and have driven the gangs to become
better organized and more dangerous, researchers who conducted a six-nation study said
on Thursday.

The study, led by researchers at the Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico, found that
gangs, known as "maras," pose a serious threat to public security in El Salvador, Honduras
and Guatemala, where police crackdowns have led them to evolve from disorganized local
groups into more heavily armed, violent and better organized bands.

"Zero tolerance, mano duro (hard-handed), sorts of strategies have not been effective in
reducing crime levels or in disrupting gang organization," said Geoff Thale, of the
Washington Office on Latin America, which took part in the research.

-snip-

"The problem needs to be demystified," Thale said. "The study shows that the situation
is different in every country, that country responses need to be different."

The researchers urged governments to move away from zero tolerance policing and instead
use an approach that combines enforcement with intervention and rehabilitation.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N08177996.htm

Also:
Heavy crackdown on youth gangs counter-productive: study - AFP
Police to name and shame 11 worst LA street gangs - Reuters
US, Latin American police chiefs meet in LA for gang summit - AFP

[bemildred]

1. Gosh, who could have predicted this?

It's almost like evolution the way the gangs adapt to pressure.