Ministry of Public Security (Chile)

The Ministry of Public Security is a Chilean government ministry responsible for maintaining public order and ensuring internal public security. It serves as the central authority for political decision-making in these areas, coordinating with other ministries and public services to implement crime prevention programs, offender rehabilitation, and social reintegration initiatives. The ministry also oversees administrative processes required by Chile's Order and Security Forces to carry out their duties effectively. Established by Law No. 21,730 on January 27, 2024, under President Gabriel Boric, the ministry consists of two undersecretariats: Public Security and Crime Prevention. Since May 19, 2026, Martín Arrau serves as Minister of Public Security. Since June 2, María del Pilar Giannini Bravo serves as Undersecretary of Public Security and Gonzalo Guerrero Valle as Undersecretary of Crime Prevention. History Background The ministry's origins trace back to February 21, 2011, when Law No. 20,502 renamed the Ministry of the Interior as the "Ministry of the Interior and Public Security." This change, enacted during President Sebastián Piñera's first administration, replaced the Division of Public Security with the Undersecretariat of Crime Prevention and brought Carabineros de Chile and the Investigative Police (PDI) under its jurisdiction. On September 3, 2021, during Piñera's second term, a bill proposed separating public security functions from the Interior Ministry to create greater political stability. The proposal included transferring police forces and creating new cybersecurity agencies under a dedicated ministry. President Gabriel Boric revived the initiative in 2022, initially naming it the Ministry of Public Security, Civil Protection, and Citizen Coexistence. After legislative approval in June 2023, the simplified name "Ministry of Public Security" was adopted. The Chamber of Deputies passed the final bill on December 4, 2024, with operations expected to begin by mid-2025. The ministry was formally established on January 27, 2025, through Decree Law No. 21,730. Its launch on April 1, 2025, restored the Interior Ministry's original name while transferring all security-related agencies to the new ministry. Start of operations The ministry commenced full operations on April 1, 2025. Minister announcement After Interior Minister Carolina Tohá's resignation, speculation centered on Undersecretary of the Interior Luis Cordero Vega as her successor. President Boric confirmed Cordero's appointment in a national address. Operations On February 27, 2025, outgoing Interior Minister Tohá revealed via social media that the new ministry would be headquartered at 220 Teatinos Street. Functions The ministry's key responsibilities include: Integrated Center for Police Coordination (Cicpol): Advises the minister on risk assessment, complex police operations, and interagency coordination, staffed by officials from the ministry and both police forces. National Citizen Protection System: A unified emergency response system (similar to U.S. 911) coordinating police, medical, municipal, and military responses. Public Security System Management: Oversees institutions maintaining public order and crime prevention. Advisory Councils: The National Public Security Council (including ministers of Interior, Defense, Finance, and Justice plus police leadership) The National Crime Prevention Council (with ministers from social sectors) Organization Undersecretariats The ministry comprises two undersecretariats: Undersecretariat of Public Security: Established in 2025 to oversee public security policy, border control, and organized crime response. It manages: Regional Ministerial Secretariats (Seremis) and Provincial Departments implementing localized security measures. Undersecretariat of Crime Prevention: Transferred from the Interior Ministry in 2025, focusing on crime prevention and offender rehabilitation programs. Dependent agencies Key agencies under the ministry's jurisdiction include: Police coordination and emergency response units (CICPOL, National Citizen Protection System) Cybersecurity agencies (National Cybersecurity Agency, CSIRT Chile, SITia AI system) Order and Security Forces: Carabineros de Chile Investigative Police of Chile (PDI) Carabineros' welfare directorate (DIPRECA) List of ministers Parties: – Independent (Ind.) – Broad Front (FA) Notes References External links Official website of the Ministry of Public Security of Chile Division of Studies Division of Administration and Finance Border Crossings Unit Firefighters Unit See also Ministry of the Interior