In the dead of night gangland addicts and pimps are pinned to the wall by masked police. The gangs' time is up: but in the upside down world of Mexico, it's the police who are fingered for the worst of Mexican crime. It is estimated that half of all police are crooked in a chain of corruption right from the very highest echelons of power. The same party has ruled Mexico for 70 years, appointed its judiciary and presided over a culture of impunity that has left citizens bereft of confidence in the nations institutions. "Corruption is a mentality here," despairs writer Guadelupe Loeaza. On the wrong side of a police line-up stands Daniel Arizmendi, the nations's worst crooked cop - a kidnapper who cut off his victim's body parts when they didn't pay-up. Kidnapping is so rife that 85% of convicts are kidnappers. Thousands are fleeing the culture of fear, while others flank themselves with bodyguards. After the murder of TV star Paco Stanley, anybody of notoriety travels in a bulletproof car. A 'defensive driving' course here teaches clients to evade kidnappers' ambushes. Citizens hope elections will deliver greater security, if not say many commentators, Mexico faces anarchy. "If you don't control the problem of public insecurity in Mexico you're going to have a revolution."

Produced by ABC Australia