February 2022 ended with 76 homicides nationwide, a total of 29 less compared to the same period in 2021 when the National Civil Police (PNC) recorded 105 violent deaths, and for such an amount, it was classified as the least violent period in the last 23 years.
This year’s data reflects a 27.6% reduction in homicides when compared to the same period in 2021.
When comparing police data from the months of February of the last 24 years, this year is the one with the lowest murder figures, followed by 2021, when President Nayib Bukele’s security strategy had already been implemented for almost two years.
Between February 1 and 28, 2022, the PNC reported the violent deaths of 76 victims throughout the national territory. While in 2021, 105 were reported, for the year 2020, there were 122. These figures are below those registered in the previous years. In 2019 and under the FMLN administration, 288 crimes occurred.
The highest figure was obtained in February 2016 when the police reported 664 homicides, an average of 28 murders per day in the country. Also in 2012, in the same period, 413 violent deaths were recorded. The recurring number of homicides in the months of February from 1998 to 2021 ranged between 290 and 740 murders.
The good results are achievements of the Territorial Control Plan. Since June 2019, the country has achieved significant decreases in homicidal violence, femicide, robbery, extortion, kidnapping, and other crimes that previous administrations could not control.
The members of the Security Cabinet have reiterated their commitment to continue working to improve the security of the Salvadoran population.
For the criminologist, Ricardo Sosa, the expanded Security Cabinet continues to demolish its best records from the previous year through joint work, unity, and a high spirit of cooperation.
Sosa says Phase IV, called “Incursion,” has deepened the decrease in high-impact crimes in Salvadoran society. “February 2022 ends, confirming a clear downward trend in homicidal violence, with fewer homicides than January 2022 and below the annual average for 2021,” he said.
According to the specialist, the fight against and repression of the crimes of homicide and disappearance of people breaks with the cycle of impunity and indifference of the previous decade.