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The favelas of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil may have a reputation for violence and crime, but one slum experienced a dramatic change of fortune after a peace-keeping police force moved in there permanently.

Over a year ago, the military police moved into the Santa Marta slum, and after weeks of pitched battles they cleared out the criminal gangs which had been controlling the streets.

However once the situation had been brought under control, a permanent pacifier force was left behind to live among the people.

The chief of the peace-keeping police unit is Captain Pricilla.

At first Captain Pricilla didn't want to work in the favela as she had once been kidnapped there and held prisoner.

However since living in the slum, she has been so moved by the stories of the people she has met that now she doesn't want to leave.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Alfonso Daniels went to Santa Marta to find out more about the initiative and whether it can be expanded to the rest of the city before the 2016 Olympics.