- News / Events
News / Events
Our News/Events pages bring you the latest news, ranging from, crime arrests to forthcoming events and is posted daily.
Bookmark this page to keep up to date with developments. Our monthly radio crime prevention feature on Kissfm can be found here as well as previous newsletters. Lastly please take a look at our gallery page which contains photos of some of our activities.
- Latest News
Latest News
Our News/Events pages bring you the latest news, ranging from, crime arrests to forthcoming events and is posted daily. Bookmark this page to keep up to date with developments. Our monthly radio crime prevention feature on Kissfm can be found here as well as previous newsletters. Lastly please take a look at our gallery page which contains photos of some of our activities.
- Newsletters
Newsletters
- Gallery
Gallery
- Events
Events
- Crime Prevention Advice
Crime Prevention Advice
One Stop Shop Crime Prevention Advice. From cyber bullying to home protection, SCA provides the most extensive range of crime prevention advice available in Portugal. With over 70 downloads, prepared by SCA, the PSP, GNR, Judicial Police, Ministry of Internal affairs and other agencies, this brings together a diverse range of well researched material available for your every need. Just click on the appropriate dropdown tab and then on the article you require.
- Property
Property
- Vehicle
Vehicle
- Personal safety
Personal safety
- Street safety
Street safety
- Animal Protection
Animal Protection
- Community
Community
- Countryside
Countryside
- For Tourists
For Tourists
- Stay Safe advice
Stay Safe advice
The main focus of our work is crime prevention aimed at residents as well as tourists. Although crime, especially violent crime, has decreased a great deal over the last 5 years, it is important that we keep it that way. Over the last two years we have produced in liaison with the police over 70 items of crime prevention advice which is on both our websites. Some of these items are comprehensive and others are simple tips. To highlight in a concise way and to improve accessibility to website visitors, we have taken the main pieces of advice and complied a “Stay Safe” series of crime prevention leaflets accessible on this page. These are easy and quick to read tips ranging from safe use to ATMs to alcohol abuse and are listed below with a short introduction.
- How we help you
How we help you
SCA provides a comprehensive range of information and services which support the police effort in preventing crime. These range from promoting the GNR Safe Residence Program, public safety advice, how to report a crime on line as well as our Safe Services Guide. Simply click of the drop down menu to obtain the information or service you require.- Emergency contacts
Emergency contacts
- Crime statistics
Crime statistics
- Sponsors – Safe Services Network
Sponsors – Safe Services Network
- Report a crime online
Report a crime online
- Missing Persons
Missing Persons
- FAQ
FAQ
- Reporting a crime
Reporting a crime
- Keeping kids safe
Keeping kids safe
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- Police
Police
The four main police organizations in Portugal are the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR), Public Security Police (PSP), the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) and Judicial Police.- GNR
GNR
The GNR created in 1911, is a paramilitary security force organised into a Special Corps of Troops. In peacetime, it is dependent upon the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for the purposes of recruitment, administration and performance of duties arising from its general mission, and on the National Ministry of Defence, for the purposes of standardisation and regulation of the military doctrine, arms and equipment. The GNR’s missions are: to guarantee, within the scope of its responsibility, the maintenance of public order, within its area of jurisdiction exercised mainly through the policing of all areas in the country except for the larger cities which come under the jurisdiction of the PSP.
- PSP
PSP
The PSP was formed in 1867. Its overall responsibilities are ensuring democratic legality, safeguarding internal security and the rights of its citizens in accordance with the constitution and laws of Portugal. The PSP is commanded by a National Director responsible to the Minister of Internal Affairs. Its duties, defined in law, are diverse and include protection of key points, diplomatic protection, security of major events, traffic policing, private security and firearms licensing, crime prevention, investigation of crime, airport security and protection of persons and property within its areas of remit. It is responsible for the policing of all the airports as well are the larger cities.
- Judicial Police
Judicial Police
The Judicial Police was created on 20 October 1945, and is dedicated to the prevention and investigation of serious crime throughout the country. It is integrated into justice system and has been designed and shaped over decades to serve justice. Managed by judicial magistrates and prosecutors and officials with legal training, the Judicial Police deals with increasingly complex criminality in areas such as: drug trafficking, cybercrime, terrorism, money laundering corruption and crimes involving firearms. It has a number of specialist crime support and investigative units including those responsible for forensic examinations and international cooperation with INTERPOL and EUROPOL.
- SEF
SEF
SEF is a security service within the Ministry of Internal Affairs that is responsible for carrying out checks on persons at the borders, monitoring aliens inside national territory, preventing and fighting organized crime involving illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings, decide upon asylum applications, issuing passports and identification documents to foreign nationals, in order to safeguard internal security and individual rights and freedoms within the global context of the migratory phenomenon. SEF is also responsible for promoting, coordinating and implementing the measures and actions related to these activities and to migratory movements.
- ASAE
ASAE
The Economic and Food Safety Authority (ASAE) is the national specialised administrative authority for food safety and economic surveillance. ASAE is responsible for the exercise of economic activities in the food and non-food sectors, by monitoring, preventing and enforcement of regulations and legislation. ASAE is a criminal police body. ASAE has a very wide scope, responsible for the enforcement of over 1000 food, non-food and services laws. It is also the competent authority for the surveillance of sale of products and services, in order to ensure safety and consumer health, as well as developing preventive and enforcement actions relating to illegal gambling.
- Weather
- Cybercrime
Cybercrime
Globally, cybercrime is the fastest growing crime. Criminals know that it’s easier and more profitable than “physical crime” and the probability of being caught is lower. - About Us
About Us
“About Us” provides you with all the background to Safe Communities Algarve, how it was formed, its history, details of our management team and importantly our credentials in terms of government support. Details of our advisors can be found here as well as information on how to become a member of SCA.- History
History
Safe Communities Algarve (SCA) was created by David Thomas a former Assistant Commissioner of the Hong Kong Police and consultant to INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Since 2009 he has been actively involved in promoting crime prevention in the Algarve, giving presentations to organizations such as International Rotary, British Consulate Outreach events, AFPOP Eastern Section and the public together with the GNR, PSP and other government agencies. He has visited victims of crime, assisted the police and civil authorities in the Region and helped promote and develop the GNR SRP. In October 2011 following discussions with the GNR Faro District Commander, David created SCA as an on-line platform providing comprehensive crime prevention information and services to the community. On 2nd November 2012 SCA was registered as a non-profit Association, named “Associação Safe Communities Algarve”. It is believe to be the first registered non-profit crime prevention association in Portugal. Since its formation SCA has become increasing active in initiating and developing various crime prevention projects in collaboration with various authorities. During 2013 we completed a project with the help of British Vice Consulate and with the financial support of the UK Government, in developing crime prevention stickers for the car hire industry in the Algarve. We also helped the PSP police in developing a guideline in English of the points to take into account in selecting an alarm company. SCA also initiated and worked closely with Turismo de Portugal and the Ministry of Internal Administration in Lisbon in producing Portugal’s first Gambling Information Leaflet in English. In December 2013 organized and held its first event outside of the Algarve in the form of a Crime Prevention Seminar in Cascais for residents living in that area as well as Sintra and Lisbon. In July 2014 the registered name of the association was changed to Associacao SCP Safe Communities Portugal to reflect its broadened responsibilities in other parts of the country.
- Meet the Team
Meet the Team
Safe Communities Algarve is a registered non-profit association run by volunteers. The elected officials for 2013-16 are:
- Protocols
Protocols
Safe Communities Algarve (SCA) is supported by both the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) and Polícia Segurança Publica PSP and has written protocols with both of these organizations outlining our collaborative arrangements. These were approved by the General Commands in Lisbon and signed in 2012. These two Protocols include ways in which SCA collaborates with the PSP and GNR and vice versa. The provisions include the holding of seminars and displays; the SCA support for the GNR Safe Residence Program; the publication of GNR and PSP material on the SCA website and the provision of links to the SCA website from the GNR and PSP sites. Also covered is the forming of joint initiatives in terms of crime prevention to help combat crime. On 27th February 2014 SCA was priviledged to sign a protocol with Servico de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) in order to strengthen collaboration between the two organizations, in particular creating greater awareness of SEF’s work and activities and to develop joint initiatives and activities in the future. On 31st July 2014 the association signed a protocol with the ANPC (civil Protection Agency) following a joint awareness campaign held from May to June in wildfire prevention and environmental protection. The protocol establishes a formal link between the two organizations which will help in planning further activities and will therefore benefit the community. SCA also works closely with a number of other authorities such as the Municipal councils, Turismo do Algarve, Civil Protection Agency, Night Guard Service and the British Vice Consul as well as the private sector. Increasingly contacts now include agencies based in Lisbon such as the PSP, GNR, Turismo de Portugal and Ministry of Internal Administration.
- Our supporters
Our supporters
The forming of Safe Communities Algarve has been welcomed by a number of prominent officials including the British and Dutch Ambassadors to Portugal. Jill Gallard, British Ambassador to Portugal: “I am delighted to learn of the launch of an on line platform promoting crime prevention in the Algarve. The Safe Communities Algarve initiative should help British residents to ensure that their property and personal possessions are well protected, and keep them up to date with local developments”. Henk Soeters, Dutch Ambassador to Portugal: The H.M Ambassador to the Netherlands based in Lisbon Mr. Henk Soeters has welcomed the creation of Safe Communities Algarve. Acting on behalf of Mr Soetes, the Honorary Consul to the Netherlands, Annelies Reugebrink, said that: “I give an assurance to lend support to Safe Communities Algarve whenever necessary. Working closely together with the local GNR initiative Residencia Segura (Safe Residents Program), this initiative should also improve the safety of Dutch residents, in the resorts as well as in the more rural areas”
- Our advisors
Our advisors
We appreciate and thank the public that have supported our work. To operate the diverse range of services that we do requires practical and academic skills in the areas of policing and crime prevention, as well as the ability to deal with government. We are grateful therefore to our advisors who have bought special skills and experience within their professions to Safe Communities Algarve, to supplement those of the Board and help us develop further. We are always interested to hear from anyone who feels that they maybe able to help our association, and thereby the community, through any particular professional skills or experience they may have.
- Membership
Membership
Associação Safe Communities Algarve (SCA) welcomes new members who are interested and able to help the community in crime prevention and maintaining the Algarve as a safe place to live and visit. We are keen to harness the skills and experience of those in the community to help others in the community. This may not necessarily be in the field of crime prevention, but can range from administrative to organizational skills and experience. We are keen to involve all cultures as Portugal, including the Algarve, fully embraces all nationalities in a multi cultural environment. Members of our current Board and Fiscal Council are of three different nationalities with a diverse range of background and experience. Membership categories Full member (single) – For single people Full member (joint) – For couples How to become a member Any existing member may propose an applicant for membership. For anyone who is interested in joining but does not know a member please contact the Association using the contacts page on this website, so we can find out about how you can help. Award of membership Membership is considered based on the following criteria:- Has previously held, or is currently holding a professional or community position.
- Prepared to give up time to assist in community work
- Is keen to support the police in their efforts to combat crime
- Support the aims and work of Safe Communities Algarve
- Testimonials
Testimonials
- Specific objectives
Specific objectives
Backgound Although the Algarve is a comparatively safe place to live, we all have a collective responsibility in helping the authorities prevent crime. SCA was formed following consultation with police as it was clear that there is a need to foster closer police public engagement with the aim of achieving greater collaboration in preventing crime. The name “Safe Communities Algarve” has been chosen as it reflects the work that the government is already taking to help keep the Algarve a safe place to live, and also because the word “communities” enshrines both residents and visitors. Aim The aim of SCA is to promote safer communities, enhance security awareness and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime. Specific Objectives In achieving the aim SCA’s specif objectives are:- In collaboration with police providing crime prevention advice to residents and visitors to the Algarve.
- Helping the police authorities communicate and promote their various programs and initiatives to the community so the latter have more information about policing and crime prevention.
- Encouraging active support within the community of the police effort to promote crime prevention and safe communities.
- Providing a forum of experience and expertise in the private sector that contribute to public safety and security in the region.
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