Just over half of respondents to a 2011 survey by the consulting firm Cifra said that insecurity was their greatest concern. This was attributed largely by many, including Mujica, to a sharp increase in juvenile crime. Demonstrations were held and a campaign was launched to lower the age of penal liability from 18 to 16, and the government launched a police modernisation drive, which included giving 1,000 soldiers the opportunity to transfer to the police. Insecurity became a key campaign issue for the opposition: by the time elections were held in 2014 the homicide rate had been brought down by 9%.End of preview - This article contains approximately 454 words.
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