State of Mexico Opens US$10 Million C4 Center in Chimalhuacan

The State of Mexico inaugurated the new Control, Command, Communication and Computing Center (C4) in Chimalhuacan, a high-tech facility with an investment of nearly US$10 million. This center aims to strengthen security and surveillance in the eastern region of the State of Mexico, with a special focus on preventing gender-based violence.

Chimalhuacán's C4, located in the Tlatel Xochitenco neighborhood, is part of the state security strategy outlined in the 2023-2029 Development Plan. This facility focuses on enhancing public surveillance, reducing crime rates, and effectively coordinating security forces in the region.

With an investment of more than MX$185 million (US$9.9 million), the center features advanced technology, including 1,200 high-definition cameras, 120 cameras installed in patrol cars, 340 strategically distributed cameras, 50 emergency buttons, and 170 loudspeakers that also function as seismic alerts.

A notable feature of this center is the inclusion of a Specialized Police Unit for the Attention of Victims of Domestic Violence and Gender Police. Additionally, the C4 houses a Data and Information Bank of the State of Mexico on Cases of Violence against Women. This database compiles information from municipal systems and agencies to generate accurate data for the prevention, attention, prosecution, and eradication of gender violence in the state.

During the inauguration, Governor Delfina Gómez Álvarez emphasized the importance of this center in the technological and operational transformation of the State of Mexico's security forces. According to the governor, the C4 represents a significant advancement for a municipality that, for two decades, had been underserved in terms of security.

In May 2023, Chimalhuacan was recognized as one of the municipalities with the highest incidence of high-impact crime in the State of Mexico. According to the Semáforo Delictivo del Estado de México, which evaluates 11 categories related to criminal activities, Chimalhuacán ranks first in crimes such as kidnapping, homicide, femicide, and extortion.

According to the National Urban Public Safety Survey of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) for the first quarter of 2023, 81.8% of the residents of the municipality feel unsafe walking the streets and using public transportation, and do not perceive improvements in the local administration led by Xóchitl Flores Jiménez, Mayor of Chimalhuacan.

The INEGI survey also highlights widespread dissatisfaction with municipal management. Only 17% of residents believe the local government has been effective in providing basic services, such as water supply, public lighting, and security.