The Environment Minister Juan Carlos Castro, He said that crime is not out of control. According to him, this is due to Juan’s work José SantiváñezInterior Minister. Castro stressed that the “great effort” of his colleague has made it possible for the population to “leave peacefully” and that there is “a greater police presence.”
“The minister Santiváñez He is making an enormous effort, day and night. It is applying a strategy that, we believe, will result. (…) As a citizen, I perceive that there is an advance in the fight against crime and not only me, but also those who live in my condominium and in my area, perceive that they can leave calm and that there is more presence of the police ( …), “he said.
The figures contradict what the Minister of the Environment
The number of homicides in Peru has increased significantly in 2024, with an increase of 35% compared to 2023, according to figures from the National Computer System of Deaths (Sinadef) and National Police of Peru (PNP). Lima is the region with more cases, followed by Libertad, Callao and Piura. Most homicides were committed with firearms and on public roads. The analyst Juan Carbajal He attributes this violence to the increase in extortion and sicariate, especially in the main cities. Despite the numerous complaints of extortion, the number of detainees for this crime remains relatively low.
SINADEF data indicated that, in January 2025, an average of 181 homicides was reported, of which 58 (equivalent to 34%) occurred in Metropolitan Lima. These figures have led to different sectors to criticize the management of security and the fight against crime carried out by the current Interior Minister, Juan José Santiváñezwhom Castro Halaga for his work.
In addition, crime -related figures also show an increase. According to reports from the Public Ministry, 24,918 cases of kidnapping at the national level were denounced in each of the 34 fiscal districts. Of these, the capital stands out, with 2,230 complaints for kidnapping between 2016 and 2024. Also in 2024, in its December report, the Crime and Violence Observatory assured that victimization and crime at the national urban level have increased in The last two years, going from 23.1% to 27.5%, and pointed out that extortion, “drop by drop” loans, scams and cell phones are the crimes that have most affected Peruvians.
Other political figures have also minimized the overflow of crime
In addition to Castro, other political figures have minimized the increase in homicide figures and the indicators that measure citizen insecurity. Such is the case of the Minister of Health, César Vásquezwho said that the problem of increasing murders in our country is being generalized, stating that “it is part of the increase in violence worldwide.”
“Homicides are not a simple, or exclusive problem of our country. In the world, violence has increased terribly. There are other countries close to ours that are worse, even. And we are trying to fight, as a government, every day against The cases of homicides committed by criminals and against robberies, “he said, in a press conference, the head of the health portfolio.
More recently, the mayor of Lima, Rafael López Aliagaminimized the increase in crime in the capital. After the visit of the American streamer ‘Speed’, the burgomaster indicated during an interview that seeks to invite more content creators with the aim of cleaning the unsafe city image that the Peruvian capital has. López Aliaga said that, according to his opinion, Lima is a city with a “brutal” peace and tranquility.
“I invite the streamers to come to Peru, because it is a way to internationalize the country and change, even a bit, the image that has been attributed to us as ‘violent country’ and a place where you can’t walking. false.
