Ministry of Public Security (Chile)

Ministry of Public Security
Ministerio de Seguridad Pública
Governmental logo.

Headquarters of the Ministry of Public Security.
Agency overview
FormedApril 1, 2025 (2025-04-01)
Preceding agency
TypeMinistry
JurisdictionNational
HeadquartersTeatinos 220, Santiago, Chile
Minister of Public Security responsible
Deputy Ministers responsible
Parent departmentExecutive Branch
Parent agencyPresidency of the Republic
Child agency
Websitehttps://minsegpublica.cl/

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. As of April 1, 2025, lawyer Luis Cordero Vega serves as Minister of Public Security, with Rafael Collado González as Undersecretary of Public Security. Carolina Leitao Álvarez-Salamanca has held the position of Undersecretary of Crime Prevention since November 6, 2024, within the Boric administration.[1]

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."[2] 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.[3][Note 1]

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.[4] President Gabriel Boric revived the initiative in 2022, initially naming it the Ministry of Public Security, Civil Protection, and Citizen Coexistence.[5] After legislative approval in June 2023, the simplified name "Ministry of Public Security" was adopted.[6] The Chamber of Deputies passed the final bill on December 4, 2024, with operations expected to begin by mid-2025.[7] The ministry was formally established on January 27, 2025, through Decree Law No. 21,730.[8][9] Its launch on April 1, 2025, restored the Interior Ministry's original name while transferring all security-related agencies to the new ministry.[10][1]

Start of operations

The ministry commenced full operations on April 1, 2025.[11]

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.[12][13][1]

Operations

On February 27, 2025, outgoing Interior Minister Tohá revealed via social media that the new ministry would be headquartered at 220 Teatinos Street.[14]

Functions

The ministry's key responsibilities include:[15][16][17]

  • 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:[16]

  • Undersecretariat of Public Security:[1] 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.[15]
  • Undersecretariat of Crime Prevention:[1][Note 2] 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:[16]

  • 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)
No. Minister Party Start End President
1 Luis Cordero Vega[18] Ind. April 1, 2025 Incumbent Gabriel Boric Font

Notes

  1. ^ Both police forces were previously administered by the Ministry of National Defense before being transferred to the Interior Ministry in this reorganization.
  2. ^ Successor to the Division of Public Security created in 2011.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "The 25 ministries in Chile and all their undersecretariats following the creation of Public Security". 28 March 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  2. ^ Ministry of the Interior of Chile (10 June 2005). "Law No. 20,502 Creates the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security and the National Service for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Drug and Alcohol Consumption, and amends various legal bodies". Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Government enacts law creating the new Ministry of the Interior and Public Security". www.gob.cl. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Carabineros Reform: Piñera announces bill to create the Ministry of Public Security". www.cnnchile.com. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  5. ^ "President Boric delivers his first public address with a strong social focus". www.gob.cl. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Bill 14614-07. Creates the Ministry of Public Security". Chamber of Deputies of Chile. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Into law: Lower House approves creation of the Ministry of Public Security". cooperativa.cl. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  8. ^ "President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric Font, enacts the Ministry of Public Security: "We are celebrating an achievement to improve the quality of life of Chileans"". prensapresidencia.cl. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Law 21730 CREATES THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY". bcn.cl. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Tohá confirms date for the launch of the new Ministry of Public Security". latercera.com. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  11. ^ "Ministry of Public Security will begin operations on April 1, 2025". emol.com. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Profile of the Ministry of Security, the new portfolio that could be headed by Luis Cordero". La Tercera. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  13. ^ "In a nationwide address: President Boric to announce Luis Cordero as new Minister of Security". eldinamo. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Where will they be located? Details on the offices of the future Ministry of Security". Cooperativa. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  15. ^ a b gob.cl (27 January 2025). "We enact the creation of the Ministry of Public Security, dedicated 100% to protecting families". Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  16. ^ a b c "Starting April 1: What will be the functions of the new Ministry of Public Security?". biobiochile.cl. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Ministry of Public Security: How will the new agency operate in the regions?". biobiochile.cl. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  18. ^ "President Boric appoints Luis Cordero as the first Minister of the Ministry of Public Security". biobiochile.cl. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.

Social media

See also

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