What does this reform consist of?
Its objective is to consolidate the strategy of public security and protection of the population, as well as to strengthen the fight against crime and the reduction of crime.
In addition, it reinforces the powers of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection – now headed by Omar Harfuch – to provide it with legal instruments that allow its effective participation in the investigation of crimes.
What powers are given to the Secretariat?
The reform modifies constitutional article 21 to establish several changes. One of them is that it empowers the Ministry of Security to open files and investigate crimes, which until now can only be done by the Attorney General’s Office (FGR).
“The project reforms article 21 in order to emphasize inter-institutional coordination to make the fight against crime more efficient. The above will be achieved by integrating the Secretariat in the investigation of crimes, providing it with the capacity to generate investigations that allow it to collaborate with the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic in the investigation of crimes,” it is mentioned in the explanatory memorandum of the reform.
Another function that Secretary Omar García Harfuch will have is that he will be in charge of coordinating the National Intelligence System on Public Security and will lead joint actions between the three levels of government, from whom he may request information to identify and clarify the alleged facts. criminals.
This will allow, the constitutional modification ensures, that the investigation of crimes is based on intelligence, strategic information, data analysis; which “not only strengthens the investigation process of facts that allegedly constitute a crime, but also intelligently uses the resources of the State to combat crime.”
Another modification that is mentioned is regarding federal funds for public safety. To this end, it is established that these will be contributed to the federal entities and municipalities, which will be audited and monitored by the National Public Security System through an Executive Secretariat.
Federal aid funds for public security at the national level will be provided to federal entities and municipalities, to be allocated exclusively for these purposes. These funds will be audited and their due exercise monitored by the System through its Executive Secretariat.
In addition to this, the Secretary of Security will not only formulate, coordinate and direct the National Public Security Strategy, it will also assist the president of the country in matters of national security.
It will also coordinate the national intelligence system on public security, as well as the actions of the three levels of government through the institutions responsible for security.
What is the procedure to be approved?
It has already been approved by the Senate, so it will now be sent to the Chamber of Deputies for discussion and voting. Subsequently, it will be sent to the state congresses so that at least 17 of them endorse it, since it is a constitutional reform.
Once this entire process passes, it will be published in the Official Gazette of the Federation and will come into force. This will imply that the Ministry of Security makes the necessary regulatory harmonization.
