This blog contains research, comments and data about security, crime, arms control and regulatory issues. Many of them published by the Asociación para Políticas Públicas (APP). Diego M. Fleitas, its author, holds a Msc in Public Policy (University of Oxford), and Lawyer and Sociologist degrees (UBA), works as consultant on security and regulatory issues, and is a member of APP.

Explaining officer compliance: The importance of procedural justice and trust inside police organtizations

This paper was published in Criminology & Criminal Justice together with Nicole Haas, Maarten Van Craen and Wesley Skogan, and it analyses Procedural Justice Theory about why police officers obey instructions and policies, what is also of permanent concern to police leaders and the community. This is especially the case when it comes to preventing police misconduct, such as the use of excessive force. In the current study we examined officer compliance from a procedural justice and social exchange perspective. Using data collected among police officers of the Metropolitana Police in Buenos Aires, we explored to what extent internal procedural justice and trust are related to: (1) officer compliance with supervisors and policies; and (2) officer endorsement of regulations on the use of force. The results indicate that perceptions of fair treatment by supervisors and trust in supervisors are positively associated with (stated) compliance. Our findings suggest that a procedural justice approach may facilitate the implementation of police policies and contribute to preventing police violence. 
Diego Fleitas 

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Latin America battles to stem illegal arms flows

This article in Jane’s (2016) shows how arms trafficking fuels insecurity across Latin America and the Caribbean, drawing on illegal sales, diversions from state arsenals, and the flow of weapons from the United States into Mexico.Also, Negotiated demobilisation of Colombian FARC insurgents in 2016 would be a major step forward, although it would bring high risks of weapons diversion if not managed alongside a comprehensive disarmament programme. In addition, weak regulatory frameworks are deficient in controlling flows of arms and ammunition, with the 2014 Arms Trade Treaty yet to prove its utility.

Diego Fleitas

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Arms Race vs Cooperation in Security in South America

This essay was prepared for the IV International Conference of Forte Copacabana, organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and it analyses and relates two complex issues, on the one hand the eventual existence of an arms race, and on the other hand, cooperation in security issues in the region.
Diego Fleitas

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Private Security and Firearms in Latin America

This work, done in 2015 together with Ana Yancy Espinoza and Antoine Perret, presents up-to-date information about Private Security Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in relation to their use and management of firearms, and also about policies and regulations on those issues. This work intended to see their strengths and weaknesses and also good practices and possible solutions to the problems often associated with private security and firearms use. This was part of a consultancy carried out for DCAF and UNlirec.

The report showed that private security industry was growing steadily across the region, and there were 16,948 private security companies, with 2,460,654 agents.  Also, the sector suffered large levels of informality, which affected its standards and undermined its control. However, regulatory agencies occasionally considered that controlling the informal or illegal part of the industry is not their main task. In addition, there were  572,693 firearms owned by private security companies, in 17 countries.
In addition, the edition of the final report done by those organizations can be found in shorturl.at/ekFIU

Diego Fleitas

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Map of Gender Violence in Argentina

This is a summary of report written in Spanish together with Alejandra Otamendi in 2011, with the sponsorship of the Norways’ government, it aims to provide information and statistical analysis, on the characteristics, evolution and possible explanations about gender violence in Argentina and in each one of its provinces. For example, about homicides, assaults, rapes, suicides and other problems. 

Diego Fleitas 

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Crime and Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean

This publication of 2014, done together with German Lodala and Hernan Flom, gives detailed and comprehensive information about crime and violence  in Latin America and the Caribbean. For that three data sources were used, UNODC, Pan-American Health Organization, and Americas Barometer. Thus, the survey allows not only to have a comprehensive approach but also to compare and validate the scope and quality of the data sources. In addition there is a country profile summarizing for each country its data on crime and security. This publication in English  is a brief of a larger one in Spanish.

Diego Fleitas

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