MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Punta Arenas rated by residents as the safest city in Chile

Punta Arenas is Chile's city with the lowest percentage of victimized homes and where prosecution is best evaluated according to a poll from Paz Ciudadana-Adimark, a non government organization which monitors violence and crime in Chilean society.

Temuco and Santiago de Chile are on the extreme opposite with the highest number of victimized homes, 41.1% and 40.6%, respectively compared to Punta Arenas 12.7% followed by Viña del Mar with 25.1%. The definition of victimization means that any member of a family has been victim of robbery, attempt of, both inside and outside the home. According to Paz Ciudadana-Adimark poll last July 61.9% of Chilean homes, country wide were free of victimization compared to 38.1% which effectively suffered some sort of crime. As to the Chilean population fear feeling or perception of criminality and/or victimization, Punta Arenas is again the least affected with a just 1.6%, well below Osorno 10.5% and in the other extreme Santiago de Chile with 19.8%. The poll also assesses officials standing regarding the victimization factor and for that purpose compares June 2008 with June a year ago. In Punta Arenas the local government keeps to its average of 4.4. Carabineros increases from 5.2 to 5.8 while the Investigation police (detectives) also is up from 5.2 to 5.8. However courts are down from 3.9 to 3.8; elected officials (Senators and Representatives) increase from 3.6 to 3.8 while prosecutors remain at the average of 4.2. According to Paz Ciudadana-Adimark these points are by far the best of Chile. At country level, the poll also shows that victimization fear of residents from east Santiago has risen significantly, and that both Carabineros and the Investigation police have become more efficient and reliable to the eyes of the average citizen.