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The government is in the “phase of completion” of the bill that will allow police officers to use video cameras in their uniforms – the so-called bodyguards – something that has been claimed by the PSP itself and which is already happening in many European countries and in most US states.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that “the proposed law to change the legal regime governing the use of video surveillance systems by security forces is in the final stages.” concerning the use of designated bodies by members of the security forces, whose use is also subject to regulation “.

The government also adds that the National Data Protection Commission “will be heard” during the legislative process that will follow.

PSP considers that this type of equipment is fundamental for the safety of its agents and the public, and its images are important for the determination of the facts.

The PSP National Directorate has already asked that the Amadora division (where troubled neighbourhoods such as Cova da Moura, Estrela d’África) be a pioneer in the use of this equipment, in a pilot project preparatory for the expansion of this type of equipment.

“For us, these chambers are fundamental for proving both the bad behaviour of the police and the citizens and have an undeniable deterrent effect to attempts to manipulate the facts,” explained the source of the National Directorate of PSP to DN.

Police already have equipment purchased, according to trade union representatives, who already use it in specific situations during training.

What is still lacking is legislative regulation.

That was admitted Tuesday by the minister of Internal Affairs, Eduardo Cabrita, when he commented on the cases of violence with police of the last days, triggered by the images of aggressions in the Barrio de Jamaica, in Seixal.

 

More than a third of complaints by security forces were related to physical offences

The General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) received 860 complaints against the actions of the security forces in 2018, the highest figure of the last seven years, according to data from the agency sent to the agency Lusa.

The PSP is the security force with the largest number of complaints, with 477 entries against the actions of PSP agents in 2018, followed by the GNR with 270, the Foreigners and Borders Service , with 36, and other entities supervised by the Ministry of Internal Administration (25).

The number of complaints filed in that body that supervises the police action increased by 11.3% in 2018 compared to the previous year (an additional 88).

According to data provided to Lusa, the IGAI received 5,437 complaints in seven years. In 2012, there were 817 complaints, which rose to 830 in 2013 and dropped to 711 in 2014.

In the following year they rose again to 717, in 2016 they increased to 730, rising again in 2017 to 772 and last year they again increased to 860.

The denunciations that came to the attention of the IGAI in 2018 essentially through complaints filed by judicial bodies (431), citizens (213) and anonymous (116).

According to the IGAI, more than a third of the complaints of security forces were related to physical offenses, with a total of 255, of which 172 were addressed to elements of the PSP and 73 to the GNR military.

The violation of general duties related to incorrect procedures or behaviours practiced by police motivated 175 participations (20.3%) of the IGAI last year, and there are also 251 complaints that include the category of domestic violence.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) has also registered 52 complaints of matters of an internal or professional nature, 44 of abuse of authority, 66 of violations of special duties related to illegalities and omissions, six for discriminatory practices, three for illegal detention and two for death, with no details on these cases.

PSP leads all types of complaints, except for matters of an internal or professional nature, which was the GNR.

During the past year, that body protected by the MAI processed 1,483 complaints against police, 623 of which transited from 2017 and 860 were filed in 2018.

Of the 1,483 complaints analysed, the IGAI concluded 874, having filed 609 cases for this year, converted to disciplinary proceedings four and filed 765 for lack of infringement or evidence, and 609 disciplinary proceedings are ongoing in the security forces and services and institutions.

IGAI’s mission is to ensure the audit, inspection and inspection functions of all the entities, services and bodies covered by the MAI.

Eduardo Cabrita talked about the incidents of the last days in Lisbon and Setúbal. Minister said it was “under consideration” for police to be able to use video cameras in their uniforms.

Home Affairs Minister Eduardo Cabrita said on Tuesday he had “all the confidence” in the police, considering that “tranquility and serenity” are essential when there are incidents such as those registered in recent days in the districts of Lisbon and Setubal

“I have every confidence in the Portuguese police, all confidence in the police and all the certainty that, as is always the case, the circumstances under consideration will be evaluated in the ongoing investigation,” the official told reporters in Faro when asked about possible excesses on the part of the police.

The PSP reinforced on Tuesday the policing with elements of the Special Police Unit in Bela Vista, Setúbal, and in some areas of Loures and Odivelas (district of Lisbon), after incidents recorded during the night, with the launch of Molotov cocktails against a squadron and the burning of crates and cars.

The minister of Home Affairs, who was speaking to journalists after a four-hour meeting with local authorities, at the headquarters of the Intermunicipal Communities of the Algarve (AMAL) in Faro, also said that “the police may be able to use camcorders on the uniforms.

By classifying the incidents recorded as “specific phenomena”, Eduardo Cabrita stressed that “tranquility and serenity” are essential and ensured that “all matters that can be integrated in the framework of the investigation opened on the same day will be clarified.”

In a statement, PSP said it was continuing investigations into the incidents of the dawn of this Tuesday,

The inspectors of the Judicial Police will be on strike for seven days in early February along with the remaining PJ staff, the Trade Union of Criminal Investigation Officials (ASFIC / PJ) revealed on Tuesday 22^nd January at a press conference.

The PJ inspectors decided to stop several hours a day in the first week of February (from 4 to 8) and on days 11 and 12 like the rest of the PJ staff.

Thus, the three trade union structures, which represent inspectors, security guards and administrative staff, decided to strike a strike from 00:00 hours on February 4 to 12:00 midnight on a rotating basis.

Between the 4th and the 5th, there is a stoppage of all the work to be done in the prevention unit and all the work outside normal working hours.

On 21^st January 2019 the Prime Minister António Costa presided over the installation of the Agency for the Integrated Management of Rural Fire (AGIF), at the Centre for Forest Operations and Techniques, at a ceremony attended by the Ministers of National Defence, Gomes Cravinho, Internal Administration, Eduardo Cabrita, Deputy and Economy, Siza Vieira, Planning and Infrastructure, Pedro Marques, Environment and Energy Transition, Matos Fernandes, and Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Capoulas Santos.

The members of the Government visited the Centre for Forest Operations and Techniques and participated in a meeting of the integrated Management of Rural Fire Management System , prior to the installation of the Agency for the Integrated Management of Rural Fire (AGIF), chaired by Tiago Oliveira.

The Prime Minister recalled that there had been, especially since 2006, ‘a distraction that can not be restored’ with regard to forest and rural fires. The Government approved the structural reform of the forest and also several measures (some of which are published in the Diário da República today ).

We can never be rested

António Costa said that “we can never be rested in relation to the risks of fire that exist”, especially as climate change has increased in recent years the protection conditions of the Portuguese forest as well as the populations.

“There is a global problem of climate change that has aggravated the conditions for the outbreak of fires, where desertification of the interior territories and forest disorganization already led to the occurrence of fires,” he said.

Therefore, the Government enforced the Fire Prevention Act, especially during the winter, and strengthened the whole system to improve fire-fighting interventions, in particular preventing them from reaching large proportions.

António Costa pointed out that for this year the Government has reserved 360 million euros for actions of prevention, surveillance and firefighting, of which about 158 ​​million euros are for prevention, beginning on the 25th the information and warning campaign, called ‘Portugal chama!’.

AGIF, headquartered in Lousã, will have 18 employees, distributed throughout the mainland’s other intermunicipal communities, which constitute the main network of the Integrated Management System for Rural Fire.

About a hundred people, allegedly residents of the Jamaican Quarter, in Seixal, Setúbal, demonstrated on Monday afternoon 21st January in protest in front of the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI), in Praça do Comércio, in Lisbon, for say “enough” to police violence and “down with racism.”

At 1715 hours demonstrators demobilized from the area in front of the MAI in Commerce Square, but continued in downtown Lisbon and there were several incidents, with police firing rubber bullets into the air in the roundabout area the Marquis of Pombal and Avenida da Liberdade, to disperse the protesters because some individuals threw some stones at police officers and even at civilian vehicles.

During these actions four demonstrators were detained.

After the incidents quieted the PSP, told reporters that the bullets were shot “in the air” in response to the stone throwing by the protesters.

A spokesman for the PSP said that when police “tried to lead the demonstrators in order to free one of the Avenida da Liberdade avenues to allow the circulation of the cars” they started throwing stones at the agents who “had to intervene”.

The same source said that some police suffered “minor injuries.

The demonstration was called through social networks like Facebook, by the Black Consciousness movement.

The PSP has reported that on 21^st January, at 21:40, two cars were burned in Odivelas and two others in Póvoa de Santo Adrião, using molotov cocktails.

Subsequently, 11 garbage bins were burned and destroyed, in this sequence, 5 vehicles, in the area surrounding the Bairro da Cidade Nova, were also burned using Molotov cocktails.

As a result, the Public Security Police carried out investigations and investigations resulting in the interception of four suspects, and an 18-year-old man was detained after being recognized by witnesses as one of the perpetrators using the incendiary devices.

Later, at 03:15 am, in Bela Vista, Setúbal, 3 Molotov cocktails were launched against the PSP squadron building. There were no injuries recorded but there were damages in the squad and in a civilian vehicle. Suspects of this criminal action have not yet been identified.

The Public Security Police continues investigations into these incidents, indicating nothing so far as they are associated with the demonstration that took place yesterday in Terreiro do Paço, where four people were arrested after stones were thrown at the PSP at a protest rally against acts of alleged police violence on Sunday in Jamaica’s Seixal neighbourhood. See earlier post.

The Security Police stresses that the security climate has been restored in the areas mentioned above, being  reinforced by police resources in the places, ensuring tranquility and normality to all residents.

“Rail Action Day / Active Shield”

As part of the activities of the RAILPOL Counter-Terrorism Group (European Network of Railway Police Forces), the Public Security Police – which is part of this European Network – launched several national operations on 16 and 17 January, which has also been observed in several European cities – with the aim of combating crime in rail transport.

Between 07h00 on January 16th and 07h00 on January 17th, the PSP carried out several preventive actions in the various Commands served by public transport / metropolitan network in its area of ​​responsibility.

The railway / metropolitan lines of CP, Fertagus, Metropolitano de Lisboa, Metropolitano do Porto and Metropolitano de Almada were included in these operations, and 732 police officers were involved.

In 24 hours, 119 stations, 276 trains and 1245 people were inspected, with the following results:

• 15 arrests (2 for drug trafficking, 2 for possession of illegal weapon, 5 for illegal immigration and 6 for other crimes);
• Seized 2 weapons (1 firearm and 1 weapon), 121 doses of cocaine, 158 of heroin and 1 of hashish.

EUROPOL 15th January 2019 – An organised criminal group recruiting dozens of women into sham marriages was detected and dismantled by Belgian and Portuguese authorities, with the active support of Europol and Eurojust. Altogether 17 suspects were arrested today in Belgium and 3 in Portugal in an internationally coordinated action day.

The criminal group was involved in the facilitation of illegal immigration by organising sham marriages, predominately between Portuguese and Pakistani nationals. Portuguese women were recruited to marry Pakistani men they had never met and in return, received several thousands of euros. The couples then travelled to Belgium, where the wives were soon employed by (believed to be bogus) Belgian companies. By purchasing shares in the companies, this allowed the husbands to stay in the EU, obtain resident permits and then profit unjustly from social and other benefits. The shares were later transferred between the wives, allowing new recruits to become partners of the companies. The women usually travelled back to Portugal and would occasionally return to Belgium for police and immigration checks.

The investigation started in Belgium by the Belgian Federal Police in 2015 after authorities discovered a suspicious increase in the number of mixed marriage certificates in Ieper (Belgium). Due to the international nature of the crime, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was set up which culminated in a Joint Action Day today, 15 January 2019. Today’s operation was conducted simultaneously in Ieper and Brussels and in Lisbon and Algarve (Portugal). To facilitate direct cooperation, Belgian officers were present in Portugal while their Portuguese counterparts from the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) travelled to Belgium. In Belgium, 18 house searches were carried out and 43 irregular migrants were discovered, mostly of Pakistani origin. Counterfeit documents and mobile devices were seized for further investigation. In Portugal, law enforcement arrested three suspects, searched nine houses and seized various pieces of technological equipment (laptops, desktops and other mobile devices).

Europol supported the joint operation on-the-spot at the coordination centre set up at Eurojust. Europol analysts were also deployed to Belgium and Portugal for real-time information cross-checks and mobile phone forensics. This coordinated international cooperation proved very useful in the dismantling of this criminal network.

 

The Minister of Home Affairs said that firefighters will have “a stronger role” in Civil Protection structures and expressed hope that negotiations with the Fireman’s League (LBP) will be completed by the end of January.

Eduardo Cabrita said that “there is a reinforced role that is intended to be attributed to the participation of firefighters in this structure and a respect for the organisational autonomy” of the humanitarian associations, which are currently around 450.

“What is foreseen is the existence of a fire brigade integrated in the ANPC, with an autonomous budget that transparently reflects the financial relationship with the fire brigades. Also in the decision of the person in charge of this structure, the LBP has a word to say “in the profile that will” condition the recruitment process, “as well as compulsorily being heard in the designation of the person responsible for this national fire department,” he explained.

Eduardo Cabrita also said that the LBP will also have “a word to say in the professional content and in the mission of those in charge of the territorial structure of Civil Protection.”

The minister stressed that the “experience of command of fire brigades” will be “an indispensable requirement to compete for the functions that succeed what today are the second district commanders of Civil Protection.”

He stressed that it will be “strengthened and clarified what the powers of the current National Fire Brigade Council are.”

During the commission, Eduardo Cabrita was questioned by several MPs about the future organic law of the ANPC and about the LBP’s challenge, which in December, for 10 days, failed to communicate operational information to district relief operations (CDOS) of protest.

At the end of December, the LBP suspended the measures until March due to the opening of the Government to negotiate.

Eduardo Cabrita stressed that the effective dialogue allowed the clarification of questions about the organic law of ANPC.

“The proposal was approved for public consultation on October 25, but there have been some misunderstandings that are happily overcome. We will not be in full agreement on everything. These dialogue processes have these characteristics, but I think there is a frank opening for dialogue, “the minister said.

The League claims a national independent fire department with its own budget, a self-contained fire department and the firefighter’s social card.