PRF gains new responsibilities and may act outside federal highways
PRF gains new responsibilities with PEC approved by the Senate and may act on railways, waterways, federal installations and security operations
The Federal Highway Police (PRF) will be able to assume new responsibilities in Brazilian public safety, including policing on federal railways and waterways, protecting Union facilities, and supporting state security operations. The changes are foreseen in the Proposed Amendment to the Constitution (PEC) 18/2025, approved by the Federal Senate on Tuesday (3).
Known as PEC of Public Security, the proposal represents one of the biggest changes in the attributions of PRF since the 1988 Constitution. The text was approved in two rounds, with 73 votes in favor in the first and 75 in the second, and is being promulgated by the Congresso Nacional.
Currently focused on patrolling federal highways, traffic control and combating crime in these corridors, PRF will be able to expand its presence to other areas considered strategic for national security.
What will be the new assignments of PRF?
The main change is the possibility of the Federal Road Police acting beyond the roads. With the constitutional change, the institution will have new employment possibilities in different public security situations.
Among the tasks envisaged are:
Policing on federal railways: ostensible action to prevent and combat crimes in railway corridors.
Supervision and policing on federal waterways: expansion of the police presence on waterways under the responsibility of the Union.
Protection of federal facilities: possibility of employment in the security of goods, services and structures of Union interest, except those under military administration.
State security support: participation in operations to support the state and Federal District bodies, upon request of the governors and observing the legal conditions.
Action in disasters and disasters: cooperation in emergency situations that require the support of security forces.
Combating organized crime: expanding the possibilities of integrated operations and coping with crime in different logistics corridors.
The new powers should respect the responsibilities of other police institutions and will depend in part on specific regulations.
PRF could strengthen fight against organized crime
The expansion of the attributions could also strengthen the confrontation to organizações criminosas that use highways, railways and waterways to transport drugs, weapons, illicit goods and other products related to criminal activities.
With the possibility of policing on different means of transport, the PRF will be able to participate in more comprehensive actions of surveillance, intelligence and repression of crime.
The change seeks to improve integration between police forces, especially in operations that go beyond the territorial boundaries of states.
The PEC also provides for the strengthening of the Unified System of Public Security (SUSP), expanding the mechanisms of cooperation between the Union, states, Federal District and municipalities.
Changes will not be applied immediately
Despite the approval of the PEC, the Federal Road Police will not be able to automatically assume all the new functions.
The implementation will depend on regulations to define the limits of action, the conditions of employment of the police and the articulation with the other bodies responsible for public safety.
In the case of railways and waterways, it will be necessary to establish specific procedures for policing, supervision and institutional cooperation.
The expansion of activities will also require investments in equipment, technology, agent training, operational structure and hiring or redistribution of personnel, as planned and available resources.
PRF already prepares changes in the structure
The institution began, in March 2026, studies to evaluate the impacts of expanding its competences.
The planning takes place through the PEC Strategic Project of Public Security, instituted by Ordinance DG/PRF no 180/2026, according to information from the corporation.
The work includes legal, operational and administrative analyses, in addition to the identification of training needs, equipment, human resources and logistics.
The intention is to prepare the institution to gradually incorporate the new responsibilities, without compromising the services already provided on federal highways.
Change could have reflexes on the Campos Gerais
In the Campos Gerais region, where highways such as BR-376, BR-373 and BR-277 play an important role in the transport of cargo and passengers, the expansion of the PRF’s duties could contribute to integrated security operations.
The possibility of working in railways also draws attention to the importance of rail transport for the movement of goods in the Paraná.
However, the eventual expansion of the operational presence of PRF in Ponta Grossa and in the other municipalities of Campos Gerais will depend on the regulation and planning of the institution. There is still no definition of new teams or structures specific to the region.
With the approval of the PEC, the Federal Highway Police enters a new institutional stage, which may expand its participation in Brazilian public safety and in the fight against crime beyond the highways. (The information is from PRF Media)
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