Rio without make-up; The subjective safety perception of low-middle class and upper-high class due to police and surveillance devises

Abstract

Despite the worrisome high crime rates of Rio de Janeiro it will host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games, These rates are generally associated with the low -middle class residents, among whom crimes appears to develop most. Even though Rio de Janeiro is characterised by the spatial structure of the divided city, upper-high class residential areas are also influenced by this crime. Therefore, the government has the task to transform the city into a safer city by diminishing crime rates. This is done via two safety measures, namely increasing the number of police officers and surveillance devises within urban public spaces. As the government mainly focuses on decreasing the crime statistics, this research will study the subjective safety perception of low-middle class residents and upper-high class residents related to these two safety measures. This research assembled information about safety feelings through ethnographic method. The concept of safety was leading. Results showed that the concept of safety, of the low-middle class residents and upper-high class residents, is perceived in different ways. Whilst the first wishes for basic needs, the second protects themselves through self-protecting in fear of crime. The outcomes of safety perceptions directly linked to the increase of police officers is negatively growing, since all citizens fear police due to the lacking trust within its system, which is also shown in the safety perception of surveillance devises. These results confirmed past studies partly, showing how safety perceptions are indicated.