PARÁ MILITARY POLICE AND THE CONFRONTATION AGAINST THE "DOMINATION OF CITIES"

Abstract

The term "novo cangaço" (new cangaço) emerged from news reports comparing bank robberies—characterized by the taking of hostages and the torching of vehicles—to the cangaço criminal movement of the early 20th century. However, organized crime strategies regarding bank robberies in small municipalities gave rise to the concept of "city domination" (domínio de cidades), referring to criminal actions in which entire towns are besieged for the purpose of robbing bank branches. It falls to public security forces—specifically the Pará Military Police—to adopt proactive and repressive measures against this type of crime. This study, titled "The Pará Military Police and Combating City Domination," aims to analyze bank robbery incidents in the interior of Pará State that employ the "city domination" modus operandi and to understand the effective actions taken by the Pará Military Police to combat this criminal modality. The research methodology consisted of a literature review—incorporating theoretical and documentary content—complemented by an empirical analysis of collected data, based on the methodological framework of Gil (2025). It is observed that the proactive policing services of the Pará Military Police, combined with the creation of police units technically and tactically equipped to confront heavily armed bank-robbing gangs, have resulted in a drastic reduction of this type of crime in cities previously plagued by such criminal activity.