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The Food and Economic Security Authority has announced the seizure of 124 tonnes of table olives in the municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz, Évora district, due to lack of hygiene and operator licensing.

In a statement, the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) informs that the activity of the operator has been suspended and a process of administrative misconduct has been initiated, due to non-compliance with hygiene requirements and lack of control of water for human consumption, licensing and traceability.

In addition to the table olive, worth 43 thousand euros, three items of weighing equipment were also seized that were not “properly calibrated,” he said.

According to the ASAE, the operation was initiated, in recent days, by elements of the Évora Operational Unit that was targeting an olive recipient, located in the municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz.

The inspectors found that the space where the reception and conservation of table olives was done, was not “properly licensed” and did not have “the minimum hygienic conditions,” ASAE said in the statement.

In addition, he added, “water from a hole without any control” was used. The presence of the Public Health Unit of Évora was therefore requested at the site, who testified that it was a danger to public health.

A shootout in a neighburhood in Elvas, Portalegre district, has killed one person. The victim was hit by one of several shots fired at the car he was a passenger. The incident took place around dawn time on Christmas Day Tuesday 25^th December.

PSP National Command source said the alert was given at 00.00 hours and that the victim was”between 55 and 60 years old.” It is not yet known how many shots were fired – they were at least three, with a pistol or a revolver – but were in the direction from the “from the back to the front of a car and hit the person who was next to the driver,” explained PSP to JN. Those involved come from the Pias neighbourhood in Elvas.

The attackers were on foot as they fired into the car. The police authorities have not yet made any arrests until late morning today and the identity and location of the perpetrators of the shooting is not yet known.

The case was handed over to the Judicial Police, who are in the area today to investigate. The autopsy of the victim will be held tomorrow at Elvas Hospital.

Strong police presence across the country due to protests scheduled for Friday. But almost an hour after the planned start the mobilization there were few demonstators. In Braga alone there were some blockades however, “with people kicking and throwing “bottles at vehicles”

The north entrances to Braga, at the roundabout of the Infias, are blocked by more than fifty yellow vests since 06:00, with some altercations already registered with motorists who tried to pass, but these were not serious.

According to Lusa news agency, more than 50 yellow vests kicked and threw bottles at vehicles that tried to break through the blockade.

Despite the blocking, there is a “on-track safety route” for the passage of emergency vehicles.

In Lisbon, PSP spokesman Alexandre Coimbra told Lusa about 06:30 that “everything was still calm”. So far there are no complications in the places where the demonstrations were planned.

At the 25 de Abril bridge, there is a strong presence of the PSP, but no yellow vests on the spot.

In the Marques de Pombal, in Lisbon, there are about 30 people. The police are now moving traffic through the side streets.

Near the toll of the A8, protesters passed by, honking and displaying their yellow vests

In the Francos Node, in Porto, the yellow vests tried to blockade a roundabout but the standstill lasted only a few minutes and the 50 or so “yellow vests” were moved on by police peacefully.

The elements of this event have a French flag and are standing on the crosswalk, causing some traffic in this area. Some of BES’s victims are also being joined by this movement, showing their discontent with corruption.

The protests of the “yellow vests” in Portugal were called by various groups through social networks, inspired by the recent protest movements in France.

One of the groups, Movimiento Coletes Amarelos Portugal, in a manifesto released on Wednesday , proposes a reduction of taxes on electricity, with an incidence on audiovisual and carbon dioxide emission rates, a reduction of VAT and IRC for micro and small companies, as well as the end of the tax on petroleum products and halving VAT on fuels.

Not tolerating any act of violence or vandalism, this movement, which is called “peaceful and non-partisan”, also defends the fight against corruption.

The list of demonstrations of the “yellow vests” in the area of ​​activity of the PSP included 25 protests in 17 places of the main cities of the country.

To help keep people informed of the issues in Brexit that involve the safety and security of citizens in the UK and how this affects Europe, Safe Communities will be keeping our readers up to date concerning what has been agreed between the UK and Europe, but as we are all aware not yet been put before parliament.

As you are aware there are two main documents; the Draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union which comprises 585 pages and the 26 page Draft Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom, agreed at negotiators’ level and agreed in principle at political level, subject to endorsement by Leaders.

It is very important that people understand that the security of of country, its residents and those visiting is not just dependent on the number of police officers, how they are deployed etc, but what goes on behind the scenes. This means the sharing of data between countries, the process of sharing investigations and the efficient means of bring culprits to justice through international binding arrest warrants.

Without these measures in place and faced with crimes of an international dimension, such as cybercrime and money laundering, Europe as a whole would be a less safer place.

Although not a legally binding document I will start this series by outlining the provisions of the Draft Political agreement:

General Principals – With a view to Europe’s security and the safety of their respective citizens, the Parties should establish a broad, comprehensive and balanced security partnership. This partnership will take into account geographic proximity and evolving threats, including serious international crime, terrorism, cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, hybrid threats, the erosion of the rules-based international order and the resurgence of state based threats.

Law Enforcement and Judicial Co-operation Criminal Matters – The future relationship will provide for comprehensive, close, balanced and reciprocal law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, with the view to delivering strong operational capabilities for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal offences, taking into account the geographic proximity, shared and evolving threats the Parties face, the mutual benefits to the safety and security of their citizens, and the fact that the United Kingdom will be a non-Schengen third country that does not provide for the free movement of persons.

Data Exchange – Recognising that effective and swift data sharing and analysis is vital for modern law enforcement, the Parties agree to put in place arrangements that reflect this, in order to respond to evolving threats, disrupt terrorism and serious criminality, facilitate investigations and prosecutions, and ensure the security of the public. 86. The Parties should establish reciprocal arrangements for timely, effective and efficient exchanges of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data and the results of processing such data stored in respective national PNR processing systems, and of DNA, fingerprints and vehicle registration data.

Operational cooperation between law enforcement authorities and judicial cooperation in criminal matters. The Parties recognise the value in facilitating operational cooperation between the United Kingdom’s and Member States’ law enforcement and judicial authorities, and will therefore work together to identify the terms for the United Kingdom’s cooperation via Europol and Eurojust. The Parties should establish effective arrangements based on streamlined procedures and time limits enabling the United Kingdom and Member States to surrender suspected and convicted persons efficiently and expeditiously, with the possibilities to waive the requirement of double criminality, and to determine the applicability of these arrangements to own nationals and for political offences.

Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. The Parties agree to support international efforts to prevent and fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, particularly through compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards and associated cooperation. The Parties agree to go beyond the FATF standards with regard to beneficial ownership transparency and ending the anonymity associated with the use of virtual currencies, including through obliging virtual currency exchanges and custodian wallet providers to apply customer due diligence controls.

 

Preliminary report on the INEM helicopter accident investigation

Following the accident with the INEM helicopter on December 15, which killed four people, the National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC) has presented the preliminary report of the investigation process determined by the Minister of Internal Administration.

The report points to flaws in NAV and 112 in INEM helicopter crash

According to the preliminary report of the National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC) the response time following the accident last Saturday, may have been compromised by delays in communication by NAV and 112.

According to the document, both NAV Portugal and the Operational Center of Norte – 112 (CONOR) did not make contact with the coordination centre of the Portuguese Air Force “with the necessary timing, and this could have compromised the response time of the search response and rescue”

The report published today (18^th December 2018) by the ANPC emphasizes that this was “an absolutely exceptional occurrence”. The report points to several flaws in the way the various authorities reacted to the accident that resulted in the death of the four occupants.

From the outset, NAV Portugal for 20 minutes, from 19.20 to 19.40 hours, developed its own procedures, “to the detriment of compliance with the provisions of the National Operational Directive.” The report also points the finger at CONOR (112) who, “after contacting citizens, did not warn the CDOS of Porto, giving preference to the dispatch of means of the security forces and did not initiate proceedings with the ANPC to restrict the search area “.

It concludes that “contact with the Rescue Coordination Centre of the Portuguese Air Force to identify a possible accident with an aircraft, both by NAV Portugal and CONOR (112) was not carried out with the necessary timing and could have compromised the response time of the search and rescue means “.

The preliminary report of the ANPC also stresses that the weather conditions and the terrain were determining factors for carrying out the searches

In view of the conclusions of the 15 page preliminary report, the Minister for Home Affairs stated the following actions will be taken:

• sending the report to the Prime Minister;
• sending the report to the Minister of National Defence and to the Minister of Planning and Infrastructures to clarify the circumstances of non-compliance with the procedures set forth in Operational Directive No. 4 – Air Force Integrated Accident Response Device by the Air Force and NAV;
• sending the report to the Minister of Health;
• sending the report to the Attorney General of the Republic for the proper investigation

The Minister of Internal Administration also directed the ANPC, in coordination with the Air Force, NAV, PSP, GNR, the Porto Civil Protection District Commission and the Valongo City Council, to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the communication of the occurrence and the mobilization of resources aimed at fully clarifying the facts and the presentation of proposals for correction of applicable procedures and norms.

The preliminary assessment of the wreckage that has been possible so far indicates that the aircraft crash occurred following a collision with an existing broadcasting antenna in the area,” he revealed in a note sent to Lusa, the Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Accidents with Aircraft and Railroad Accidents (GPIAAF).

“This collision may have been caused by a number of possible causes, which can be duly clarified only after all necessary information has been gathered and in the course of further investigation.”

According to the air accident investigations office, the public who removed pieces of helicopter from the National Institute of Emergency Medical (INEM) helicopter that fell on Saturday in Valongo municipality, causing four deaths, “may have hampered the investigation.”

Since Sunday, when a team from the Office of Aircraft Accident Prevention and Investigation (GPIAAF) initiated the expertise and data collection on the spot, those responsible were visible in television reports, in newspapers and in the media online, showing them taking pieces of debris from the helicopter.

“If they were taken [pieces of the wreck] while the perimeter was established, i.e. on day 16 [Sunday], it could have hampered the investigation.” If it was later, all relevant wreckage had already been recorded and collected by investigators, which in this case does not, “explains the GPIAAF, in a written response sent today to the Lusa agency.

The wreckage was scattered over the mountain range where the helicopter crashed for several hundred metres. The GPIAAF recalls that this action, in addition to being able to call into question the investigation, such removal is prohibited by law.

“In general, the information that can be extracted from the wreckage of an accident is fundamental to the investigation of the causes that gave rise to it and may even, in certain situations, be evidence of a crime, so that until the wreckage is properly registered and selected by investigators, nothing should be moved, except as strictly necessary for the relief of victims, “emphasizes the GPIAAF.

The office says that “upon arrival at the site, asked the PSP created two security perimeters in accordance with the applicable rules” in these cases.

“One around the main area of ​​the wreckage and another outside, covering all the wreckage, considering that the necessity of presence of resources in each one of them is different.” The PSP established the said security perimeters accordingly. The topography of the terrain and configuration of access, these perimeters will have proved difficult to control completely, “adds the GPIAAF.

Lusa questioned the Metropolitan Command of the PSP of Porto at what time the security perimeter was set up and how it was possible for the public to access the site and take pieces of the helicopter that could be important for the investigation.

In response, the PSP Command of Porto reported that “communication management” regarding the helicopter crash “is being carried out by the National Civil Protection Authority”, who replied that “a minister of Internal Administration “, reason why” does not grant interviews on the subject “.

The Office of Prevention and Investigation of Accidents with Aircraft and Rail Accidents leaves an appeal to the population.

“In general, we appeal to people to not only to comply with the Law, but to apply common sense by those who are tempted to change the evidence of an accident, albeit unconsciously, which may obstruct the prevention of future accidents. Such actions may also put those involved at risk as the wreckage may be contaminated with hazardous substances or biological waste, “said the agency.

Britons will have to pay €7 (£6.30) every three years to travel to EU countries, as a consequence of Brexit.

The European Commission has confirmed that while UK travellers will not need a visa, they will need to apply for and buy another document.

It is called an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), a completely electronic system which allows and keeps track of visitors from countries who do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone. In a way, it resembles the U.S Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which serves a similar purpose. The legal procedures to pass the ETIAS have started in 2016, and the system is expected to be in place by 2021.

The ETIAS will undergo a detailed security check of each applicant to determine whether they can be allowed to enter any Schengen Zone country. Since citizens of countries who do not need a visa for travel purposes of up to 90 days in the EU do not need to go through a long process of applying for the visa, the ETIAS will make sure that these people are not a security threat. This travel authorization system will gather, keep track of, and update necessary information regarding visitors to determine whether it is safe for them to enter Schengen countries.

The travel requirement is not just for the UK but for many non-EU countries.

Citizens of EU countries – which currently includes British people – are able to travel anywhere in the EU.

But anyone from a non-EU country has to apply for a visa – unless they are from a special list of 61 countries, which also includes the US, Japan and Australia.

Nationals from these 61 countries can travel within the EU’s Schengen zone – the area where people can travel without border checks – for up to 90 days without a visa.

However, because of the migrant crisis and security concerns over terrorism, the EU has decided to bring in more controls over the countries on this special list.

So it is introducing the ETIAS – an electronic application form – which is Europe’s version of the United States’ $14 ESTA, although as the EU Commission points out, it is “way cheaper”.

What will UK travellers to the EU have to do?

Under the Brexit deal, EU citizens and UK nationals will continue to be able to travel freely with a passport or identity card until the end of the transition period in 2020.

After this period ends, the European Commission has offered visa-free travel for UK nationals coming to the EU for a short stay, as long as the UK offers the same in return.

But although they do not need a visa, UK nationals will need an ETIAS – deal or no deal.

The form – which the EU describes as a “necessary and small procedural step” – will take no more than 10 minutes and anyone between the ages of 18 and 70 must pay the fee, the EU says.

The details needed for the application form will include passport information as well as background questions about criminal records or medical conditions.

Most people will find out if their application has been successful within minutes, the EU says, with more than 95% of applications approved automatically.

Applications can also be denied or take up to four weeks to process.

If successful, the ETIAS will last for three years and allow an unlimited number of entries. The document will be checked by border guards when crossing the EU border.

On 25^th November the woman aged 96 years, who was bedridden and unable to leave, was surprised by the thief, who took advantage of the key being in the door of the room to enter. The culprit punched the old woman’s left eye with a lighter, set fire to the ends of the duvet and blanket, and threatened to set the bed on fire and burn it.

However the daughter of the victim and hers son-in-law, who live in the house next door and who were going to change a light bulb, arrived and confronted the suspect. A neighbour alerted the GNR, whose barracks are 400 meters away, and military officers from the Valado dos Frades and São Martinho do Porto posts responded to the incident.

While the assailant was detained the elderly woman was taken with slight injuries to the hospital in Alcobaça and then to the University Hospitals of Coimbra for examination. She returned home, but was traumatized by the incident, said the officials who provide home support.

The 48-year-old assailant, who lives in the same locality, has criminal records for petty theft and robbery, and was sentenced to four years suspended for pimping. He is now in custody, after having been present the first judicial interrogation on the 27^th November, in Leiria. He is accused of committing a crime of aggravated robbery, in the manner attempted, and of four crimes of aggravated threats.

Four individuals who tried to extort money from a business man in Caldas da Rainha, forcing him to make a transfer at an ATM, were detained by police late Thursday morning 13^th December, near Expoeste, in Caldas da Rainha.

The businessman, about 50 years old, was approached by the four to provide a locksmith service at a construction site in the industrial area of ​​Gaeiras, Óbidos municipality, but when he arrived he was coerced to use a firm’s ATM card and transfer money to the suspects.

The man was taken in a jeep accompanied by two of the men, while the other two followed in another car. They went to Caldas da Rainha, where the businessman tried to prolong the trip to the ATM.

In the meanwhile a relative of the victim, who knew about the service, was able to contact the businessman by mobile phone and realized that something was wrong. He alerted the police, giving the possible destination location that was transmitted to him by the victim using his mobile phone.

Near to the ATM, next to the exhibition centre Expoeste, the police interception was mounted. PSP and GNR military officers arrived and gave orders for the suspects to lie on the ground.

The suspects, aged 30 to 50 from the Lisbon area, are charged with kidnapping and attempted extortion and robbery.

They were present at the first judicial interrogation in the court of Caldas da Rainha, and despite having a criminal record, they were given a term of identity and residency until trial.

According a media report this displeased the police authorities, especially since the individuals were caught in the act.

Three men, two of them Romanians, were detained by the Judiciary Police on suspicion of forcing women to prostitute themselves in the Bombarral, Lourinhã and Leiria areas.

According to the board of the Center of the PJ, the trio is charged with trafficking in human beings, in ​​sexual exploitation and also the crime of aggravated pimping.

The investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged by a victim, who escaped control of the defendants. At the beginning of December a number of domestic and non-domiciliary searches were carried out and the suspects were arrested, the two Romanian citizens aged 30 and 33 and 80-year-old Portuguese.

According to the PJ, “foreigners recruited the victims in their native country, being brought to Portugal with the false promise of working on farms, very well paid. Instead, they were forced to engage in activities related to the practice of prostitution on the public highway, and the proceeds were intended for the perpetrators.

The victims had their personal documents confiscated and were subject to control both on the public highway and in the homes intended for them, said the PJ, who found and seized “various objects and documents correlated with the crimes committed”

The detainees were subjected to a first judicial interrogation, and the two Romanians required to make presentations at the police station in the area of ​​their local residence was applied to the two foreigners.