Relaciones de autoridad y abuso policial en la Ciudad de México

this article presents the results of a research project to determine the nature of relations between the police and the population. it describes the various types of encounters, focusing particularly on abusive practices and those that violate citizens' rights. the research is based on two surveys carried out in the distrito federal and in the municipality of ciudad nezahualcoyotl, complemented by field observations and focus groups with inhabitants and police officers in that municipality. it shows the high frequency of interactions between the police and the population in forms of contact that are not directly linked to crimes as well as a significant number of incidences of abuse of authority and police corruption.