I have been working as photographer for many years around the world. I was born in Rome, but I live in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, where I work as freelance for European and Brazilian media, both as journalist and photographer. In these last years I have started working also as video maker for some European TV channels.

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Jun 10, 2014Overcrowding prisons in Brazil - Mail, UK

World Cup 2014: Inside Brazilian jail cells where English hooligans will be locked up
Jun 10, 2014 12:11 By Jessica Best
Any fans who cause trouble face being thrown into cramped cells, controlled by dangerous criminals, and at risk of disease

These chilling images show the Brazilian jail cells England football fans face being banged up in if they cause any trouble at the World Cup.

Italian photographer Giuseppe Bizzarri captured the brutal pictures of life inside some of Brazil's most notorious jail cells, where travelling fans will be sent if they get involved in violence.

He was given rare access to Sao Paulo's most infamous penitentiaries, describing the prisons as "crime universities".

Photos reveal the horrific nature of life behind bars at the packed out prison cells, many of which are controlled by criminal organisations.

Giuseppe said criminal firm First Capital Command (FCC) control drugs and gun traffic in Sao Paulo, where the Three Lions take on Uruguay in their second group fixture, and hold the balance of power inside the state's jails.

The photographer, who has lived in Brazil for 20 years, said: "Brazilian prisons are like a crime university.

"The main criminal organisations connected to traffic organise themselves and then send their plans to the individuals who are outside.

"I think everyone knows it's awful the way they treat inmates."

England take on Italy in their opening group match on June 14 in Manaus before travelling to the more hostile Sao Paulo to face Uruguay.

Roy Hodgson's men play their third and final group fixture against Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte on June 24 where Giuseppe said fans can expect a frosty reception.

Giuseppe added: "The UN already raised awareness to the prison conditions in Brazil.

"The biggest problem still is the overpopulation of prisons."

"One of the most transmitted diseases is tuberculosis which spreads rapidly because of the overpopulation."

"These prisons really are brutal and no-one in their right mind would want to end up there."

A prison riot in October 1992 led to military police storming the former Carandiru penitentiary, Sao Paulo, in what emerged to be one of the bloodiest massacres in Brazillian history.

More than 100 inmates died in the massacre, with 102 being gunned down by police and a further nine being killed by fellow inmates.

Twenty-three policemen involved in the massacre were jailed for 156 years each for the killing of 13 prisoners while 25 others 624 years each for the deaths of 52 inmates.

A further 15 policemen were sentenced to 48 years behind bars earlier this year for their part in the horrific massacre.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/world-cup-2014-inside-brazilian-...

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