Peña Nieto's proposed $4.4 billion security spending plan for 2014 allots over a third of its budget to crime prevention.
Peña Nieto's 2014 budget plan of 54 billion pesos was outlined in a document sent by the Treasury Department (SHCP) to the Senate for consideration, reported Proceso.
A large proportion of the budget, nearly 20 billion pesos (around $1.6 billion) will go to "prevention and deterrence of crime." Meanwhile, $1.4 billion will go to the penal system, $122 million to the new gendarmarie police force, and $231 million to the intelligence services. Some $382 million will be distributed to states, municipalities, and the Federal District for public security.
The growth in the security budget for 2014 represents only a small increase over the projected inflation rate of 3 percent for next year, reported El Economista.
InSight Crime Analysis
Peña Nieto has made crime prevention a cornerstone of his security strategy. His administration recently announced a new national crime prevention program that will target 250 highly violent zones.
If the budget for next year is approved, Peña Nieto's new police force, the gendarmarie, will receive a total of over 3.5 billion pesos (around $384 million) in 2013 and 2014. While this is a relatively small amount compared to that allotted to other public security programs and agencies, it is worrying that the government has yet to precisely define the structure and function of the new police force.
SUBSCRIBE