Mexico City crime crackdown inspired by Giuliani

Mexico City has passed strict new laws that will send petty thieves to jail in a crackdown inspired by crime-busting former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

A group of businessmen in the Mexican capital, which has a reputation as one of the world's most dangerous cities, has hired a consulting firm headed by Giuliani for US$4.3 million ($7.78 million) to help clean up street crime.

A key Giuliani recommendation - that police corruption be stamped out - is not easy to legislate against, although police chiefs say they have begun weeding out corrupt officers.