Interior and Justice Minister German Vargas Lleras met with mayors and governors on Sunday to discuss the security situation in Colombian cities.
The summit is part of the government strategy of involving local and departmental governments more in the development of a security policy that is to curb crime that’s been soaring in most of Colombia’s mayor cities, primarily in the country’s second largest city Medellin.
In the meeting, the Minister and the highest security officials outlined the government’s preliminary plans.
According to Vargas Lleras, the President will present the final plans in the first week of October after having consulted the local and departmental governments.
“The purpose is to collect the experiences of the governors and mayors so this policy is well coordinated at the territorial levels,” Vargas Lleras was quoted by Spanish press agency Efe.
Bogota mayor Samuel Moreno welcomed the government initiative to involve local governments with the national policy.
“We welcome this initiative and have always said that the responsibility for security can not just be carried by mayors and government when there are many factors that contribute,” Moreno said.
