Safe Communities Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 29^th April 2026

 

On April 21st, during a Parliamentary Hearing in the Assembly of the Republic, the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, in the area of Civil Protection, warned of the complexity of the period ahead, stating that “the country faces a very demanding period in the coming times. He guaranteed that resources are being reinforced, firefighters are being valued, and specific responses are being developed for extraordinary scenarios, in a coordinated effort between different entities and decision-making levels.

At the same hearing Mário Silvestre National Operational Commander ANEPC warned that some areas are veritable powder kegs. Stating: “We are careful to try to understand where we are going to have problems. From north to south of the country, it’s a powder keg.” The warning applies to places that were affected in the past”. From what officials are saying we can expect a bad year for fires so we must be prepared and make every effort in terms of prevention and preparedness.

The President of the ANEPC José Manuel Moura meanwhile was questioned by MPs from Livre, CDS-PP and PCP, at the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) into the rural fire business, about a new organic law for ANEPC announced by the Government. This , among the changes foreseen, includes the creation of a dedicated operational command for firefighters and the return of the CDOS, which were abolished in 2023 and replaced by 24 Sub-regional Emergency and Civil Protection Commands, aligned with the Intermunicipal Communities (CIM).He added “It will be easier to adopt the measure of all of us retreating to where we were,” José Manuel Moura stated, arguing that “civil protection agents should be aligned according to the same administrative division of the territory.”

Luís Neves has simply said that changes to the territorial arm of ANEPC (the national civil emergency authority) are being studied, and that the conclusions will be revealed after this summer.

Some good news is that the Public Safety Police recorded, in the first three months of this year, a decrease of about 10% in the number of thefts within a residence, compared to the same period of 2025. This decline, which translates into fewer 122 registered crimes, is accompanied by an increase in operational efficiency, with the PSP making 22 arrests. The fight against roaming organized crime remains a strategic priority, given the strong impact this type of illegal has on families’ sense of security and privacy.

 

 

News

Extreme heat alerts have increased by 318% in 10 years, a report indicates.

Extreme heat warnings in Europe have increased by 318% between 2015 and 2025, compared to the 1990s, with an estimated 62,000 people expected to die due to heat by 2024, according to a report released Tuesday.

The Countdown Europe 2026 report on health and climate change, published by the specialist journal The Lancet  analyses how human-caused climate change is exacerbating health impacts and causing deaths, and monitors the effects that adaptation and mitigation measures have on health, the economy, and finance.

According to the report, the indicators reveal “a sharp increase” in the direct and indirect negative health impacts of heat exposure in Europe, with almost all (99.6%) of the monitored regions registering an increase in the number of deaths in the period 2015-2024 compared to the years 1991-2000.

Also comparing the two periods, the report indicates that exposure to heat increased by 254% and the average annual number of hours in which heat exposure made physical activity dangerous increased by 88%.

In 2023, more than one million additional people were affected by moderate or severe food insecurity across Europe, compared to the annual average for 1981-2010, due to increased heat waves and drought.

Also due to climate change, cases of infectious diseases have increased in the last decade, with a geographical expansion of some disease vectors, accompanied by more frequent outbreaks. The possibility of dengue fever transmission increased by 297% in the last period studied, compared to 1980-2010.

The authors of the document also note that the risks, vulnerabilities, and impacts of climate change are unequal across populations and regions, and point out that the poorest people are more likely to suffer food insecurity due to heat waves, and that people in the most disadvantaged regions also face higher risks of forest fires and have less access to green spaces.

Also on the negative side, the report points to the increase in biomass burning, which contributes to air pollution and deforestation, suggesting that priority should be given to transitioning residential heating to cleaner alternatives, such as heat pumps.

Audiovisual piracy is on the rise in Portugal: the phenomenon is causing losses of 260 million euros.

The consumption of illegal audiovisual content is increasing in Portugal and already significantly exceeds the European average, raising concerns among authorities and the industry. According to recent data, the demand for pirated content in the country is about 33% above the European average, translating into an annual loss of around 260 million euros for the audiovisual sector.

Although accessing movies, series, or games through unofficial platforms may seem harmless to many users, authorities warn that this type of consumption fuels organized crime networks, often with an international reach and high profits.

Furthermore, these sites also represent an increased risk for users, particularly through fraud and phishing scheme.

According to the national director of the Judicial Police, Carlos Cabreiro , combating piracy has been a priority, but it faces significant challenges, especially due to the complexity of the networks and the need for international cooperation .

The same idea is reinforced by experts in the field, who point to the lack of effective tools and coordination between countries as one of the main obstacles to dismantling these structures.

The data also indicate that the phenomenon is particularly pronounced among younger people. Around 34 % admit to consuming illegal content, which contributes to the normalization of this practice.

According to Paulo Santos, a lawyer and former PJ inspector, this trend requires not only increased oversight, but also greater awareness of the associated risks and consequences.

The economic impact is another critical point. The loss of revenue for companies in the sector affects not only large producers, but also the entire value chain, from breeders to technicians and distributors .

The topic was highlighted at a colloquium held at the headquarters of the Polícia Judiciária (Judicial Police) in Lisbon, which brought together several national and international entities, including Europol, with the aim of discussing strategies and mechanisms to curb the growth of audiovisual piracy.

In a context where digital consumption continues to grow, authorities emphasize that combating this phenomenon depends not only on technical and legal means, but also on a change in user behaviour.