Brazilian police in Bahia recently ended their strike over low pay, which lasted 12 days and saw the region's homicide rate double. During that time politicians accused some police officers of causing panic by encouraging looting while on strike. Now the strike has ended, they have offered an amnesty against the punishment of any striking officers as long as they did not commit any crimes during the strike. For their part, the officers have received a 6.5 percent pay rise and have complained that they were played off against the public and ended their strike so they could properly police the Salvador carnival. The Government contest this and say their decision to stop salary payments to any officers still on strike is what made the police return to work.