Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday ordered National Police Director Jose Roberto Leon Riaño to move to Medellin to confront increased violence in the city.

Santos confirmed that Riaño will be transferred to Medellin this coming Monday to “take direct charge of the situation until the city becomes calm again.” Moreover, Santos stated that the general will remain in the Antioquian capital until serious crime rates, particularly the homicide rate, have been reduced.

The homicide rate in Medellin has increased by 21.2% over the first two months of 2013, in respect to the same period last year, according to the National Coroner’s Office.

The most recent report from the coroner’s office shows that 189 murders were recorded from January 1 to February 28, 2013, compared with 156 for the same period last year.

In recent months there have been ongoing reports of increased violence throughout some districts of Medellin.

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Local government and police action on the matter has evidently failed to produce concrete results. The move by the Santos government to station the National Police Director in Medellin demonstrates the seriousness with which the situation is being regarded.