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In addition to the restriction for the sale of liquor, the prohibition of the use of gunpowder, security strategies will be added in Transmilenio, surveillance in shopping centers, health care and attention for cases of gender violence, among others.
Having a safe and happy Christmas is the priority in the city. And to help in that purpose, the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá presented on Tuesday the security plan that will govern this month and until January 16, to prevent crimes from spiking during the December holidays.
A total of seven actions will be carried out next month and a half, such as an increase in security units to monitor the city 24 hours a day; urban intervention days, with local mayors, and plans for mobility and for Transmilenio.
In addition, a plan for the prevention and care of cases of gender violence; the prohibition of the use of gunpowder; restrictions for alcohol consumption, and actions for care in health centers. “These actions will lead us to enjoy a very safe and happy Christmas, instead of tragedies to regret,” said Mayor Claudia López.
>>> Read: How is Bogotá preparing to experience an atypical Christmas amid the pandemic?
24/7 surveillance units
To improve security, 24-hour surveillance devices will be reinforced. For this, a working group will be articulated with the Police, the Secretary of Security, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Army. Only in policemen, there will be 4,000 uniformed persons per shift, who will be accompanied by 450 District officials, during the controls in the localities.
“In these celebrations we cannot forget that we continue with biosafety measures. We are going to be in shopping centers, churches, parks and in these areas where a significant number of people visit the street lights and other Christmas decorations, ”said General Óscar Gómez, commander of the Bogotá Police.
Security actions by localities
The plan is to carry out 2,400 interventions in all localities. In addition, in 19 Zonal Planning Units (UPZ), special vigilance will be carried out to avoid crimes that may affect coexistence and citizen security. With the local mayors they will carry out intervention sessions, in charge of the Secretariat of Security and the Police.
“We want it to be a Christmas and a safe return to the city. Both for those who arrive and those who leave Bogotá. There are 49 daily surveillance and control actions in the localities, during the next seven weeks, ”said Mayor Claudia López.
Similarly, there will be caravans “for life” in all localities, where the Army, local mayors and coexistence managers to seize sharp weapons. For this, searches and voluntary surrender days will be carried out. “Every weapon that we take off the streets is one less crime,” said the president.
Prevention and attention to cases of gender violence
Cases of violence against women and girls tend to increase at Christmas time, so strategies were also proposed to avoid these cases and have the necessary response capacity. The local mayors, the secretariats for Women, Economic Development and Security will work on this plan. The District has arranged the presence of officials from the Secretariat for Women in five hospitals: Suba, Kennedy, Santa Clara, Meissen and at the San Rafael Clinic.
Additionally, the “Home Patrol” will be strengthened, which will be conducting tours of Bogotá and will attend to calls for cases of violence against women. “Any girl or woman who has been violated can report her case in all the lines of the Secretariat for Women, in the family police stations and other establishments that are part of the ‘Safe Spaces’ strategy,” said López.
Safe mobility and Transmilenio
Another of the points of this plan is safe mobility, which aims to guarantee the tranquility of citizens when traveling, especially in public transport. “We are going to carry out about 500 control operations in 138 prioritized stations and in nine portals of the system,” announced Felipe Ramírez, manager of Transmilenio. There will be around 2,100 people, between Police and mediators of the District, dedicated to fulfilling that objective. The zonal component will also work on nine “critical” areas.
On the other hand, for the city in general, there is an established road safety plan, since on these dates there is high traffic flow by people leaving and entering Bogotá. For this, there will be 180 units of the Operational Group of the Ministry of Mobility, 60 units of Traffic Police, 50 cranes, the implementation of exodus plans and return plan, control of drivers in a state of intoxication and controls for grillmen on motorcycles .
“We are going to work with Cundinamarca controlling access to Bogotá and specific security plans for cyclists and motorcyclists during this season,” said the Secretary of Mobility, Nicolás Estupiñán.
Restriction on the use of gunpowder
Again the capital will have a restriction on the use of gunpowder. “We want a Christmas without tragedies, in which children are happy and not at risk,” said the mayor, who celebrated that Cundinamarca also decided to prohibit the use of gunpowder.
For this, he assured that he will implement checkpoints at the exits of the capital, in order to prevent the illegal entry of gunpowder. Also, there will be surveillance in the areas of the city where more cases of burned people have been reported in the last five years. They are Kennedy, Engativá, Ciudad Bolívar and Rafael Uribe Uribe, according to Luis Ernesto Gómez, the capital’s government secretary.
This year the Mayor’s Office will have a daily record on the cases of burn patients during these dates, so that people can know the reports and the health status of the patients. “Any boy or girl who arrives burned we will know. The parents of these minors must respond, since they are the ones responsible for the fact that some child was affected by gunpowder, ”López clarified.
No liquor sale
On the other hand, in view of the restrictions for the sale of alcohol, the measure implemented since September will be maintained, which establishes that between 10:00 pm and 10:00 am the sale of intoxicating beverages is prohibited throughout the city. Restaurants are the only exception. However, it can only be sold if it is to accompany a meal and it will be allowed until midnight.
“In those hours (between 10:00 pm and 10:00 am) a complicated pattern of alcohol consumption has been evidenced in the streets. It is much more difficult to do patrols in those areas and for that reason it is prohibited for twelve hours, ”said Gómez. The District called on citizens to be cautious with the purchase of intoxicating beverages, since the sale of adulterated alcohol tends to increase during these parties.
Health care
The pandemic continues, therefore the city will implement plans to continue with the attention of COVID-19 and other emergencies, which may arise during the coming weeks. “In December, the risk of food and drink poisoning usually increases, so there will be epidemiological control and surveillance,” said the mayor.
In addition, there will be surveillance and attention for cases of sexual violence that arise during this season. In total there are four measures in terms of health: the DAR strategy will be reinforced during this season. “Please report if you have symptoms. If you feel bad, do not travel, because that will help us better control the pandemic, “said Alejandro Gómez, Secretary of Health.
Finally, the call to avoid mass meetings in closed places was reiterated in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections again.
