Rio Crime Rate Falling But Work Still Needed Ahead Of World Cup, Olympics

The crime rate in Rio de Janeiro "is falling but from a high point," and Rio 2016 COO Leo Gryner accepts that there is still work to be done in transforming the city’s image, according to the London INDEPENDENT. Gryner said, "The crime rate has decreased since 2008 by half. It has been cut by half in the city. Last week it came out in the city of Rio [crime] went down by almost another 10 percent. It is still going down and down. Yes [work needs to be done]. People need to know the streets are safe to walk." Last year, the U.S. State Department acknowledged" significant progress made in reducing Rio de Janeiro’s legendary, critical crime rates" but also said the chance of being robbed in the street remained high even in "affluent neighbourhoods" (INDEPENDENT, 3/26).