MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazilians dissatisfied with Judges and Police, trusts Armed Forces and Catholic Church

Police forces on patrol in the shanty towns that surround all major Brazilian cities

A majority of the Brazilian population, 63% is dissatisfied with the performance of the police forces and 90% considers the justice system ‘too slow” according to a survey from the Getulio Vargas Foundation think-tank Law School, released this week.

The survey also showed that the institutions which inspire most confidence are the Armed Forces and the Catholic Church, with political parties ranked last.

The Justice and law enforcement confidence public opinion survey surfaces in the midst of soaring homicides in Brazil’s largest city Sao Paulo, in the framework of an undeclared but vicious war between the drug lords, police forces and extermination groups from the same security forces.

The non satisfaction level regarding the police is higher among the poorer, 65% than among the richer Brazilians, 62%, but nevertheless significantly high.

The poll was done during the second and third quarters interviewing 3.300 people in eleven states and in a 1 to 10 confidence ranking the Judiciary branch figures with 5.5 points. Besides 90% considering the courts system ‘too slow’, 82% said it was too costly and 68% simply too difficult to have access.

The Armed Forces ranked top of the confidence list with 75% support; the Catholic Church, 56%; the Prosecution Office, 53%; big corporations, 46%; the press, 46%; the federal government, 41%; the police, 39%; the Judiciary, 39%; television channels, 35%; neighbours, 30%, Federal Congress, 19% and political parties, 7%.