Month: January 2016

On 30th January at around 0100 hrs in the morning, an Italian tourist in Bairro Alto, Lisbon, was lured into a trap by a man he met (an alleged homosexual entrapment) who drove him to a secluded location where an armed group threatened and robbed the victim.

According to a complaint made to the PSP, the Italian tourist met a man who was drinking at a bar in Bairro Alto. After socializing the man invited him to go by car to a quieter location. However the trip ended in a remote area. Waiting for the victim were several men – one of them armed with a gun and forced the Italian to hand over all the money he was carrying about 400 euros.

Afterwards the group left the tourist in central Lisbon and fled. The victim managed to take a taxi which transported him to the PSP Tourism Police Post in the area Restauradores, in the city center. The tourist reported the incident to the PSP, but could not explain where he was taken by the armed group, nor identify any of those involved in the theft. The victim reported to police that was not beaten, but was subject to death threats by the group.

The Judicial Police Lisbon was called and is investigating the complaint.

Portugal has been rated 28^th place out of 168 countries in the Transparency International Corruption index a gain of 3 places compared to 2014. This places Portugal highest of the southern European countries with Spain, Greece and Italy being places at 36^th, 58^th and 61^st place respectively.

The latest reports states that “people working together can succeed in fighting corruption. Although corruption is still rife globally, more countries improved their scores in 2015 than declined.

Coming top for the second year in a row in Denmark and the bottom two, jointly at 167^th place are North Korea and Somalia. Some countries have improved in recent years – Greece, Senegal and the UK are among those that have seen a significant increase in scores since 2012.

Others, including Australia, Brazil, Libya, Spain and Turkey, have deteriorated.

Read full table here.

In a joint initiative aimed at raising awareness and preventing animal cruelty, Safe Communities Algarve and the Territorial de Faro da Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) will be holding a Seminar on this subject on 4^th February from 16.00 to 19.00 hrs at the Conrad Hotel, Quinta do Lago.

The event will be opened by Exmº Presidente da Câmara Municipal de Loulé, Dr. Vitor Manuel Gonçalves Aleixo with introductions by Sr. Coronel Silva Gomes Comandante do Comando Territorial de Faro da Guarda Nacional Republicana and David Thomas President Safe Communities Portugal. Subject to confirmation the British Ambassador to Portugal Kirsty Hayes, is intending to address the seminar.

A panel of government and non-government expert speakers will address this subject, namely:

• Tenente Pedro Fernandes, Adjunto do Comandante do Destacamento Territorial de Silves GNR;
• Paulo Sepúlveda, Procurador Adjunto no DIAP – Unidade Local de Olhão,
• Ana Silva, Médica Veterinária, Municipal Monchique;
• Laura McGeoch President SOS Algarve Animals, Almancil and
• Karin Holmström Forster, a Dog Behaviour Expert.

The subjects to be covered include: the work of SEPNA, concerning the rescue of animals and enforcement of laws; cruelty to pet animals and judiciary practice in the public prosecution perspective; animal welfare in Monchique; the work of charities in animal rescue and the relationship between dog behaviour and cruelty. Following this there will be a panel discussion in order that those attending can ask questions.

The event will be in English and entry is free. It is open to everyone who has either interest in or who work with animals.

As this is the first seminar of its type in the Algarve it is likely to be heavily subscribed. RESERVATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL and can be made by contacting David Thomas at 913045093 or at info@safecommunitiesalgarve.

        4^th February from 16.00 to 19.00hrs at the Conrad Hotel, Quinta do Lago.

 

AZORES

20-Jan-16 06:45     Av. Alberto I Príncipe do Mónaco, Freguesia Sta Clara, concelho de Ponta Delgada, ilha de S. Miguel.

AVEIRO

18-Jan-16 08H00 / 14H00 EN 109 – KM 58.1 – Aveiro

22-Jan-16 08.00 / 14:00 Av. Sá Carneiro – GLÓRIA – Aveiro

BEJA

20-Jan-16 09:00 / 12:01 am EN 255 – Moura

BRAGANÇA

21-Jan-16 08H00 / 14H00 Av Das Communidades Europeias. – Mirandela

COIMBRA

19-Jan-16 14:30 IC2 Baths Dry S / N – Coimbra

20-Jan-16 08.00 Edgar Cardoso Bridge – Figueira da Foz

FARO

20-Jan-16 09:00 Av de Castro Marim -. Vila Real de Santo António

Leiria

20-Jan-16 14:30 / 17:30 Av Das Communidades Europeias. – Leiria

Madeira

20-Jan-16 14:00 Road Carajau – Reed

21-Jan-16 08.00 Via Express – Porto da Cruz

22-Jan-16 14:00 1 Via Expresso 1 Moinhos – Faial

23-Jan-16 08.00 Via Express – Porto da Cruz

LISBON

19-Jan-16 14:00 / 17:00 Rua António Sérgio – S. Ant.º dos Cavaleiros (Escola Secundária Humberto Delgado)

21-Jan-16 22:00   IC19 Sul/Norte

22-Jan-16 07H30 Ponte 25 de Abril Norte/Sul

PORT

20-Jan-16 08.00 / 12.00 Highway Circunvalação – 11124 – Matosinhos

PORTALEGRE

18-Jan-16 08.00 / 11.00 Av Dias de Portugal. – Elvas

SANTARÉM

19-Jan-16 14:00 / 18:00 Rua escola Regentes Agrícolas  – Santarém

SETÚBAL

18-Jan-16 14:00 / 18:00 Túnel Centro Sul (Sentido C. Caparica/Almada)

CASTLE VIANA

21-Jan-16 10.30 Road Papanata – Viana do Castelo

VILA REAL

19-Jan-16 13.30 / 15.30 Av. Rainha Dona Mafalda -. Chaves

 

Members of the Portuguese Maritime Police (PM) stationed at the Greek island of Lesbos rescued at the end of their night patrol, 45 Syrian refugees, 16 infants and children, 11 women, (two of them elderly) and 18 men.  The vessel which contained the emigrants was drifting in Greek territorial waters with a  lack of fuel. The sea was rough, the wind was strong and the air temperature was about 2 degrees Celsius.

All were transported to the nearest port, Molivos. The boat which was towed followed with the belongings of refugees to land. The Maritime Police will maintain its support for the Greek coastguard, part of the Frontex agency’s mission, until 30 September 2016. So far the team has rescued, safe and carried ashore, over 2000 migrants and refugees

A 20 year old man has been arrested selling hashish to students outside the gate to a school in Barcelos Municipality.

He was detained by the GNR soldiers of the Special Section of the Territorial Detachment of the GNR Program of Barcelos. He was found to have 270 doses of hashish, 80 euros and a knife.

According to local residents the man would drive to the gate and sell the drugs from the car never getting out of the vehicle.

The accused – unemployed, was born and is a resident in Brufe Parish in Vila Nova de Famalicão – and was caught on 11^th January at 10:30 hers. As usual, he drove up and stopped the vehicle in the vicinity of a school next to the busy EN204.

He was approached by students, many of them regulars, but was intercepted by the GNR.

A house search of the suspect was conducted where more drugs and pipe were seized. He was taken to the GNR post and made a ​​defendant. But was eventually released and the case reported to the DIAP in Vila Nova de Famalicão Court for prosecution.

With cybercrime being the largest growing crime, forecast to reach a global cost of US$ 2 trillion by 2019, it is important therefore that businesses and residents are more aware of this and what steps can be taken to minimize the risk.

Associação Safe Communities Portugal is therefore organizing a Cybercrime seminar for local businesses and residents, which will take place at the Auditório do Centro Cultural de Cascais, Av.ª Rei Humberto II de Itália, 2750-641 Cascais on Tuesday 26th January 2016 from 1800 to 2000 hrs.

We are privileged to present the following keynote speakers who are experts in their fields:

Senhor Inspetor Chefe Rogério Bravo of the Judicial Police;

Lieutenant-Colonel Paulo Jorge Soares Dos Santos, Chief of the Cybersecurity Taskforce in the Operational Command OG GNR;

Commissioner Carlos Correia Public Security Police (PSP) and

Mr. Jim Litchko (Senior Computer Security Analyst and Board Member of Safe Communities Portugal).

The event will be opened by, Senhora. Dra. Maria do Céu Garcia, Deputy Mayor of Cascais, who will deliver a welcoming address. This will be followed by a presentation by the President of Safe Communities Portugal, Mr David Thomas, concerning the work of the association regarding Cybercrime.

Topics to be covered include:  Cybersecurity Threat, Real-World Scenarios, Awareness Efforts, and Practical and Cost-Effective Solutions.

It is believed that this is the first seminar of its type to be held in English in the Cascais/Lisbon area. There will be plenty of time to ask the panellist questions. A program will be sent to those attending.

The event is in English and entry is free. More details of the event and program will be published in due course. Entry is free.  This is likely to be heavily subscribed and seating is limited. Attendance is on a first come first served basis.

Reservations:

Contact: David Thomas at info@safecommunitiesportugal.com

or call 913045093.

Tuesday 26th January 2016 – 1800 to 2000 hrs

Community Centre Auditorium Cascais, Lisboa

Please arrive by 1745 hrs.

The Secretary of State for Internal Affairs presented the new regime for the points driving license, approved in the Council of Ministers of 21 May 2015. On this occasion, Dr. John Almeida said there will be an adjustment period of one year, should the new regime enters into force on 1 June 2016. The new regime does not include any amnesty for offenses committed under the current law.

The Secretary of State said that every driver is allocated 12 points, which decrease if the driver commit serious offenses or very serious, or road crimes. In the case of serious offenses, offenders lose two points and, in very severe, four points, while in road crimes lose six points.

It was also noted that about one third of deaths from road accidents have rates of blood alcohol over the legal limit at that offenses related to alcohol are more penalized than others: a serious offense, with an alcohol level of 0, 5 g / liter, is penalized with three points and a very serious administrative offense (0.8 g / liter to 1.2 g / liter) is penalized with five points. The same goes for driving under the influence of drugs.

The bill states that the subtraction of points the driver has intermediate levels, and to attend road safety training sessions when we only have four points and carry out a new survey code when getting only two. When the offender losing all points will be untitled driving for two years and must obtain a license again.

Is three years drivers without violations gain three extra points, reaching a maximum of 15 points, stressed the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State explained that the letter by points will go into effect automatically without the need to replace any document and having no cost for drivers, who can see your registration in the new portal of offences.

See here the main details of the new scheme.

The Judicial Police, South Board and pursuant to a judicial warrant have arrested a man for child sexual abuse.

The facts involved a minor under 12 years of age, which occurred in 2008 and took place in the areas of Setubal and Faro.

The detainee, 53-year-old has been remanded in the Prison of Setúbal

Following contact with the Sea Portuguese Institute and the Atmosphere (IPMA), held today by the National Relief Operations Command (CNOS) of the National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC), it is noted, according to the information provided, that there will be a worsening of weather conditions in the next few days, with particular emphasis on the regions north of the river and, in particular, the regions of Minho and Douro Litoral.

It stands out as major risk factors:

• Persistent rainfall with higher intensity peaks (> 10 mm / h) during the day tomorrow (08JAN) and Sunday (10JAN), can the accumulated values ​​exceed 200 mm during this period;
• Snowfall above 1400 meters (may go down occasionally to 1200m);
• High winds with gusts of around 90 km / h on the coast and 100 km / h, in the highlands;
• Sea waves on the west coast with waves up to 5m.

Relevant hydrological information:

• Runoff and tends high subsurface, likely to cause flash floods in historically vulnerable areas, especially in the basins of the rivers Minho, Lima, Cávado, Ave, Vouga, Douro and Mondego. Not exclude the possible occurrence of flood situations associated with an increased flow of main water lines.
• The soil saturation conditions are in favour of the occurrence of landslides, especially in steeper slope zones.

Be sure to follow weather forecasts in www.ipma.pt

2. EFFECTS expected

Depending on the current and predicted weather conditions the following effects are expected:

• Slippery roads and eventual formation of water and ice sheets;
• Possibility of flash floods in urban areas, due to the accumulation of rainwater and / or failure of drainage systems;
• Flood possibility for overflowing water lines in the historically most vulnerable areas;
• Flooding of underground urban structures for drainage deficiencies;
• Damage to structures mounted or suspended;
• Difficulties in urban drainage systems, particularly during periods of high tide, which can cause flooding in places historically most vulnerable;
• Possibility of falling branches or trees because of strong wind;
• Possible accidents on the coastline;
• Geomorphological phenomena caused by instability of aspects related to soil water saturation.

3. PREVENTIVE MEASURES

The ANPC urges the population to adopt preventive actions, namely that:

• Ensure adequate supply of storm water runoff systems, removing inert and other objects that can be dragged or can hinder the free flow of water;
• Adopt  defensive driving, slowing down and taking special care with the possible formation of ground water and ice on traffic routes;
• Transport and apply the snow chains on vehicles whenever driving  in areas hit by snowfall;
• Do not cross flooded areas, to avoid entrainment of persons or vehiclesin existing holes in the floor drain or open boxes;
• Ensuring adequate fixing of loose structures such as scaffolding, placards and other rigid structures;
• Be especially careful in moving or residing next to wooded areas, while remaining attentive to the possibility of falling branches or trees due to strong wind;
• Be especially careful in the circulation along coastlines and in coastal areas historically more vulnerable to flash floods;
• Do not do activities related to the sea, including fishing, water sports and trips to the seaside, and avoids also the car park on the waterfront;
• Be attentive to weather information and alerts the Civil Protection and the Security Forces