Yucatán has maintained its spot as the safest state in México, according to the federal safety watchdog.
Yucatán also achieved first place, as the state with the highest perceived level of security for women in 2020, according to Mexico’s demographics institute, INEGI.
The state government credits much of Yucatáns success to its “Yucatán Seguro” or “Safe Yucatan” initiative.
Yucatán’s government has installed approximately 6,000 security cameras across the state. All cameras are now monitored from a facility known as C5i, which serves as a central information hub for the state’s police and security forces.
Significant investments have also been made in the purchase of 600 police cruisers and four additional police watercraft to offer emergency assistance along Yucatán’s 378 kilometers of coast.
Yucatán’s position as Méxicos safest state has brought with it considerable economic benefits. According to the country’s federal economic agency. Direct foreign investment in Yucatán grew by 86% in 2020, compared to 2018.
Despite the good news, commentators such as René Ramírez Benítez, warn against a “narrative of complacency” which leads Yucatecos to ignore the ills present in the state, and perhaps even under-report incidences of crime.
A good example of this is that although Yucatan ranks first in women’s perception of security, it also ranked 16 of 32 regarding incidents of domestic abuse.
“Perceptions of peace and safety in Yucatán are linked to its low incidence of crimes such as homicide, extortion and kidnapping. However, violence can take other forms which go ignored when Yucatecos become complacent,” said Ramírez Benítez.
