Securing public space is a key challenge to many Latin American cities. This is also the case for Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay, where crime and homicide rates are rapidly increasing and private security solutions abound. A strong sentiment of personal insecurity developed among the citizenry in recent years, and also political debates became highly polarized. In the meantime, profound police and justice reforms created a considerably more sophisticated, accountable and technology-oriented public security system (pictures fall 2018).

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Governmental policing – Programa de Alta Dedicación Operativa

Private security industry

Penitentiary – Cárcel Punta de Rieles

Residential space and vigilantism

Montevideo cityscape

Fieldwork snapshots