2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

Those travelling to Brazil over the coming few weeks for the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be looking forward to enjoying the football and the festive Brazilian atmosphere, but the likelihood of sporadic and violent public protest and other security concerns mean that travellers should be aware of the risks that they may come across during their trip.

The Brazilian Government’s ambitious staging plans mean that the twelve hosting cities across the country will each carry their own set of specific security risks. Petty crime and civil unrest are the two key risks which will affect travellers across each location.

Civil Unrest

Anti-government and anti-World Cup protest combined with general football-related hooliganism and labour unrest have led to a high risk of civil unrest during the tournament. On 12 June, the day of the opening match, protests escalated into violent clashes with security forces and a number of injuries in Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Protests in Brazil often occur without warning and can escalate into violence and Brasília, Porto Alegre, Fortaleza, Natal and Recife also pose a high risk of civil unrest. Vandalism and mass occupations are expected, targeting banks, government property, office and retail space of large multinationals (particularly FIFA partners) as well as sport and tourist venues. Well-organised and well-attended protests could block transport routes and access to stadiums during the World Cup tournament but they are likely to be on a smaller scale to protests seen during the summer of 2013.

The Brazilian security budget for the World Cup is reportedly USD 840 million, which is significantly higher than previous tournaments. The government is keen to preserve its image under the international spotlight and is under added pressure to deliver a safe tournament as the World Cup coincides with a major election year. As such it is likely that security forces will employ heavy-handed repressive tactics against protesters which may lead to clashes – as seen on opening day. In recent protests, police have employed tear gas, rubber bullets and beatings to disperse protesters and there have been a number of incidents of injury to civilian bystanders. Protests on 12 June were characterised by a heavy police presence and who effectively exercised control over the demonstrations though a number of journalists were injured by tear gas and stun grenades.

As with any sporting event that arouses passionate support, general football-related hooliganism also poses a risk to fans looking to attend matches. For example, travelling Argentine fans, known as Barras Bravas, who regularly incite violence at football matches within Argentina, claim to be seeking revenge on England fans over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. This may lead to violent clashes between supporters. However, this risk is mitigated by information sharing on known football hooligans between Argentina and Brazil.

Furthermore, the threat of strikes and labour unrest has the potential to cause significant disruption to the World Cup. Unions have seized upon the opportunity presented by the presence of over 600,000 travelling fans and the government’s wish to avoid embarrassment to negotiate with the authorities in demand of higher salaries and benefits. Recent strikes by public transport workers in Rio de Janeiro, Recife and São Paulo have led to considerable disruption of service. Clashes between workers and security forces can erupt without warning.

Crime

Levels of crime are high across Brazil; but the risk of theft is noticeably higher in the hosting cities of Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Natal and São Paulo. Petty and violent street crime, which often involves firearms and other weapons is prevalent in Brazil and thieves will target foreigners and those perceived to be wealthy. Popular tourist destinations and sports stadiums will be crime hot spots. The number of recorded muggings on public transport in cities such as Rio de Janeiro have doubled over the last year according to Rio de Janeiro’s state ISP security statistics agency. This is coupled with a general rise in violent crime, such as car-jacking and kidnapping, across the country. There is also a risk of sexual offences against women and foreigners who have been victim of rape and harassment in central tourist locations. Brazil has increasingly become home to several international and local drug-trafficking groups and high poverty levels contribute to insecurity associated with gang violence. 

The risks of theft and other crime will be mitigated by the heightened security at tourist destinations and World Cup games, as local authorities project confidence about their ability to safely deliver the tournament. In recent years, security forces in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have had success in lowering crime rates due to community pacification programmes aimed at low-income residential areas. However, the north-east of the country has seen an increase in violent crime. Furthermore, in 2012, Brazil was found to have a homicide rate of 25.2 per 100,000 population, with over 50,000 recorded deaths by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Spotlight on Rio

Rio de Janeiro has witnessed several incidents of civil and labour unrest in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup. Protests in mid-May 2014 were attended by thousands and resulted in burning tyres, the looting of shops, and the vandalism of local banks. Riot police regularly employ tear gas to break up demonstrations. Violent protests in April 2014 erupted following the death of a professional dancer in the Pavão-Pavãozinho favela, allegedly at the hands of the police. The resulting firefight between the favela’s residents and police caused the death of a further individual and the construction of burning barricades, leading the main thoroughfare of the tourist destination Copacabana to be closed to the public. Rio de Janeiro has critically high crime levels; however, these have been decreasing in recent years. Theft is the most regular criminal activity, with its levels having remained steady. Robbery is mainly focused on easily accessed items such as mobile telephones and jewellery; however, attacks are often committed by armed individuals. There are also several recorded incidents where tourists have been robbed upon exiting banks after withdrawing money. Levels of security during the tournament will be high and most tourist destinations and stadiums will have significant police and army protection.

There are high levels of violent and armed crime in the favelas which exist in all major Brazilian cities. However, the most lawless of these are located in Rio de Janeiro and are often in close proximity to affluent neighbourhoods and those frequented by tourists. Popular concern over citizen security often leads to violent confrontation between security forces and drug traffickers; regular firefights occur between the members of criminal gangs resident in the favelas and security forces which have resulted in multiple casualties for both sides. In general, favela residents demand fairer treatment from security forces and more attention to the economic and social malaise of their communities. Police and military forces in the city have been engaged in a pacification programme of Rio’s favelas, some of which are located close to the Rio’s international airport ahead of the World Cup. This has generally been shown to reduce levels of violent crime and homicide throughout the city, but, in some instances, has exacerbated the levels of animosity between the security forces and favela residents.

General Security Advice

— Avoid all large gatherings and demonstrations, particularly around stadiums and in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Recife and Belo Horizonte 
— General football-related hooliganism is possible and any situations of conflict should be avoided 
— Be aware of your surroundings and keep valuables out of sight: if confronted by thieves, comply and hand over belongings without resistance 
— Use only licensed taxis from recognised taxi ranks or a trustworthy recommended driver
— If driving, be sure to lock the doors and shut windows and take care at traffic lights
— Avoid public transport - in particular, urban buses: conceal valuables and consult local media for updates and advice prior to travelling in order to evade strike action
— If visiting a favela, be sure to use a reputable tour guide who will pick locations which are known to be secure