Non-Subscriber Extract
Rising crime in Costa Rica
01 May 2008
Renowned for being one of the safest countries in Central America, Costa Rica is beginning to suffer from increasing rates of violent crime and murder. An April 2008 opinion poll indicated that Costa Ricans view insecurity as the most important issue facing the government, even above the rising cost of living.
Crime rates are still low on a comparative basis; in 2007 the murder rate was 6.6 murders per 100,000, the lowest in Central America. However, violent crime is rising more rapidly, with the government stating in early 2008 that robbery rates have risen by 700 per cent since 1990, while drug-related crime is up 280 per cent in the same period. Moreover, crime is becoming more visible; the execution-style killing of five Panamanians in Costa Rica in January 2008 sparked widespread concern about the impact of drugs trafficking on crime rates in the country. Indeed, the police stated that the murders reflected a growing trend for contract killings connected to the drugs trade.
Given that Costa Rica does not have an army and only a limited police force and civil guard, increasing its ability to target the specific threat from organised crime will be key. Costa Rica is fortunate in that it is not currently faced with a major crime problem, either in terms of street gangs or transnational trafficking groups operating across its territory.
As such, it can afford to focus more on preventative measures, alongside law enforcement measures designed to disrupt criminal activity already taking place. This may have some effect, but the country remains vulnerable to infiltration by criminal groups, particularly given its lack of military. Accordingly, rising perceptions of crime may be no bad thing, since this will force local and state authorities to focus on the problem, with the aim of preventing Costa Rica from becoming a centre for the type of criminal activity that is flourishing in its northern neighbours.