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The number of defendants in the investigation that investigates the June 2017 fires in Pedrógão Grande, north of the district of Leiria, which caused 66 deaths, has increased to 18, the Leiria District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

According to the same information, “in this investigation, conducted by the Public Prosecutor of the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action of Leiria , are facts that can be included in negligent homicide and negligence crimes.”

The Leiria District Attorney’s Office added that “the investigation is in an advanced stage, and numerous enquiries have already been carried out, especially of an expert nature, and more than two hundred witnesses have been heard.”

In this investigation, the Public Prosecution Service is assisted by the Judiciary Police.

Among the 18 defendants in this investigation are councilors and ex-mayoral officials, municipal officials, members of Civil Protection and workers from private companies.

Pedrógão Grande Volunteer Fire Chief António Arnaut and Mário Cerol, 2nd district operational commander, were among the first people to be accused in December 2017.

Also in the scope of Civil Protection, Sérgio Gomes, who when the fires occurred was a district operational commander and is now deputy of National Operations at the National Civil Protection Authority, is also accused.

Others accused are the mayor of Figueiró dos Vinhos, Jorge Abreu, the former mayor of Castanheira de Pera, Fernando Lopes and the former councillor of the Municipality of Pedrógão Grande, José Graça.

In the private sector regarding companies, Ascendi Pinhal Interior confirmed in May that it was “aware that two of its employees assigned to this sub-concessionary were questioned and constituted defendants in the scope of the investigation” to the fires of Pedrógão Grande.

On the same day, EDP Distribuição declined to specify the number of its employees alleged to have been accused, merely saying that the company “has been collaborating with the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the ongoing investigation process, awaiting the conclusions the same”.

Source Diarios de Noticais

The Judicial Police, through the Northern Board of Directors, after an investigation initiated in May, succeeded today 13^th July 2018 in identifying and holding whilst caught in the act, six men of foreign nationality, for the alleged perpetration of crimes of criminal association, counterfeiting of similar securities currency, computer fraud and computer fraud in several cities in the Oporto metropolitan area.

The suspects, at least since last May, had been manufacturing and installing inside ATM machines devices for the purpose of reading the magnetic strip of the credit / debit cards used there, as well as recording of the codes of said cards.

The devices used were of great quality and were not perceptible to those who used the ATMs.

After that, these magnetic data were cloned into “white” cards that were later used by the suspects for their own benefit, acquiring goods and services. The total value of the fraud is not yet quantified, but can be estimated to have reached several tens of thousands of euros, damaging both cardholders and banks.

The work carried out by the Judicial Police resulted in the seizure of diverse material that could be used in the manufacture of all the necessary parts for such devices.

More than a hundred “white” cards were also seized, some without cloning and others already properly cloned, as well as diverse computer equipment needed for reading and cloning and tens of thousands of euros.

The detainees, aged between 25 and 43 years, will be present to the judicial authority for first interrogation and application of appropriate pre-trial conditions

The Judiciary Police, through the Criminal Investigation Department of Ponta Delgada, in conjunction with the National Unit to Combat Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, as part of an ongoing investigation, identified and detained four men and one woman, heavily indicted for committing crime trafficking in narcotics.

Three of the arrests occurred in the municipality of Ponta Delgada and two in the Greater Lisbon area, which were carried out during a police operation in which several searches were carried out and developed in these two regions, allowing the detection and seizure of more than fifteen kilograms of pollen of hashish, sufficient for about thirty thousand individual doses, as well as a motorcycle, money, a large number of communications and computer equipment, as well as other relevant probative elements.

The investigation relied on the close collaboration of the GNR, through its dog team.

The detainees, aged between 23 and 37 years old, one of whom had recently been sentenced to a prison sentence of more than eight years, on the basis of similar facts, were present at the first judicial interrogation, four of which were subject to  preventive custody.

The Judicial Police have arrested 56 individuals linked to the Hells Angels motorcycle group for, aggression, arms trafficking, drug and criminal association.

A new attack by the Hells Angels was imminent, believes the Judiciary Police (PJ), which arrested a total of 56 individuals linked to the motorcycle group on Wednesday, in a north-south operation.

The proximity of Faro’s motorcycle gathering, within a few days, precipitated the police action, for serious fear of increasing escalation of violence against rival group Red & Gold, linked to the Americans Los Bandidos.

The Judicial Police, through the National Counter-Terrorism Unit (UNCT), in close coordination with all of its structures based in the national territory and under investigation by the DCIAP, following a complex investigation, have conducted a vast operation aimed at the complete dismantling of a violent criminal association.

This action is part of a series of investigations into the illegal activities carried out on the national territory by the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club ( HAMC ).

Around 80 search warrants were executed today (Wed 11^th July) targeted at the suspects in this criminal structure, consisting of extremely dangerous individuals with extensive criminal records and extensive experience in the area of ​​violent and organized crime.

The detainees will be present from tomorrow to the first judicial interrogation for the application of the measure of coercion deemed to be convenient.

Today, the Judiciary Police will provide additional clarification on the development of this operation.                            

The Council of Ministers has approved the decree-law establishing a mandatory registration and compulsory civil liability insurance system applicable to civilian remotely piloted aircraft systems, better known as drones.

The Minister of Planning and Infrastructures, Pedro Marques, stated that although Portugal already had legislation with “flight ceilings and airport operation”, “it was found that we did not have enough instruments, not only to detect, but above all to penalize misuse ‘.

The registration system ‘means that at the time of acquisition of each drone the essential data of the drone and aircraft operator are recorded and communicated to the National Civil Aviation Authority through a computer platform, which will send the aircraft operator a system which has to be placed in the drone by the user.

The Minister said that with this system, “if any of these drones are detected operating in a prohibited zone, it will be possible to identify and hold the operator responsible”.

The identification system will be mandatory for drones with more than 250 grams, and civil liability insurance for drones with more than 900 grams, following Portugal’s legislation and international experience.

The owners of drones who have bought them before the entry into force of the legislation, will also have to register them in the computer platform of ANAC.

The legislation now approved also establishes the sanctioning regime to be applied in case of non-compliance with the established rules, a task that is the responsibility of ANAC, which is responsible for ensuring the safety of activities related to the civil use of these aircraft.

Re-building of the first affected dwellings in the fires of June 2017 are all in progress or completed

The Minister of Planning and Infrastructures, Pedro Marques, stated that all the houses of first habitation affected by the fires of June of 2017 have already been rebuilt or are under construction.

In Lisbon, in the Assembly of the Republic, Pedro Marques said that of the first 1480 dwellings affected, “1126 houses have been completed and remainder under construction, which corresponds to 100% of the dwellings of June and more than two thirds of the dwellings affected by the October fires.”

The Minister said that in relation to the other dwellings a ‘reasonable number’ is included in the works which the Commission for Regional Coordination and Development of the Centre is expected to launch shortly.

 

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Eduardo Cabrita, stated that the priority given to the prevention of forest fires “was a great victory in Portuguese society” because the importance of clearing the forest had never occupied so much time in the agenda of all.

In Braga, during the visit to the GNR station in Vila Verde, Eduardo Cabrita highlighted the “remarkable effort” Portugal made during the first half of 2018.

“Portugal is more aware, also a result of the terrible tragedy of last year. This is a priority theme for Portuguese society today, we are better prepared for this fight, “he added.

The Minister also emphasized the increased robustness of the fire-fighting program: “We have the means to be better prepared. We have a program involving 10,700 personnel for the period of greatest response, from firefighters, special forces, GNR, Armed Forces, a program with about a thousand men more than in previous years, we also constituted about 80 new permanent prevention teams in firefighters from north to south of the country.

Eduardo Cabrita emphasized the efforts of citizens and local authorities to prepare the fire season and highlighted the Safe People Safe Village program: “We already have more than a thousand villages involved in the project with a great intervention of the parish councils, in which they determine their evacuation routes, choose the local security officers and there is cooperation with the security forces and structures of civil protection

Social Security, in collaboration with the National Civil Protection Authority, has advanced to a new level of action in cases of civil emergency or catastrophe, developing an Intervention Protocol in Exception Scenarios.

This protocol includes instruments of planning, organization and coordination in the context of social support action, organizing Social Security technicians and giving indications of what to do and when to do it in articulation with other entities.

The Intervention Protocol presupposes:

• The definition of the generic competences of the Social Security Institute within the scope of intervention in exceptional scenarios;
• The competencies of the Social Security Operators according to the levels of action they will take, namely in the Operational Command Centres and in the Areas of Concentration and Support to Populations;
• The definition of competency profiles according to the organization of the Institute’s teams;
• The distribution of an intervention kit in an exception scenario composed of a vest and a field notebook for operational purposes, among other items.

2017 Experience

The fires of 2017 showed the relevance of Social Security intervention in a catastrophe or civil emergency environment.

Between June and October 2017 Social Security technicians provided permanent social support to the fire episodes in each district, contributing to the consolidation of what the Social Security responsibilities are in the context of emergency and catastrophe situations.

More than 9,000 visits were registered by Social Security technicians and about 232,000 euros were awarded in eventual subsidies to 319 families.

An exceptional and temporary exemption, total or partial, of the payment of Social Security contributions was also applied to 4 520 workers against others or self-employed.

The “Safe Village Segura” and “Safe People” Program is already being implemented in 700 villages in the 189 municipalities that have risky parishes in the area of ​​forest fire protection.

700 Village Security Officers were identified and 350 shelter / refuge locations identified. The Village Security Officer’s mission is to send warnings to the population, organize the evacuation of the cluster in case of need and raise awareness among the population.

Evacuation routes are also being identified posted in the population centres, and 260 evacuation plans have been drawn up. As of today, the distribution of self-protection kits will be intensified by the villages, as well as the signage to indicate the evacuation routes.

More than 10,000 people were involved in the awareness-raising activities carried out on the ground.

The implementation of the “Safe Villages” and “Safe People” Program is the result of a protocol signed between the National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC), the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) and the National Association of Parishes (ANAFRE).

In this combination of efforts between the Central Authority and Local Authority, it is intended:

– To encourage the participation of the populations and to reinforce the collective conscience that the protection and the security are the responsibilities of all;

– Support local authorities in order to promote more security;

– Contribute to the safeguarding of people and property;

– Implement strategies for the protection of population groups against rural fires;

– Create dynamics and habits based on the concept of self-protection;

– Familiarize the populations with the appropriate behaviours to observe in case of evacuation or confinement, training them for this purpose;

– Raise awareness for the adoption of practices and behaviours that minimize the risk of rural fire and increase the safety of communities.

For an effective and simple implementation of the program, ANPC has developed an Implementation Support Guide – https://www.portugal.gov .com / download-files / .aspx file v = 7b53bbc8-f205-4a59-9e43-b3e59b9217bc?   – so that, together with the municipalities and parishes, the measures are in progress swiftly adapted to local conditions.

Around 1 million leaflets with self-protection measures were distributed among several public entities. The brochure is also being delivered to the 640,000 households in the priority parishes. An information campaign on television, radio and social networks is also under way.

Safe Communities Portugal has translated leaflets for the MAI, and several thousand are available through the CDOS and municipal civil protection offices. These can be obtained from Safe Communities Portugal.

In an effort to simplify the procedure to report requests to burn debris in the cleaning of land and scrubland waste, the ICNF have launched an APP.

Upon making a request through the App the applicant receives an automated response based on ‘real time’ local information, such as the prevailing weather conditions and the fire siutuation in recent days.

The system generates a response based on the risk conditions for the requested day. The applicant will have to register online and then request authorisation to undertake a controlled burn. The reply is received by SMS or email.

The ICNF, in collaboration with the GNR and the National Association of Municipalities also provides a support line that allows applicants to ask questions and to access advice on how to register.

The helpline number (808 200 520), is associated with the SOS Environment and Territory Line of the GNR, is free and works from 0900 to 2100 hrs.

The uncontrolled burning debris and scrubland contributes to the high percentage of fires in Portugal that are attributable to human causes – around 98%. The new App will help to change behaviour so that such burnings can be undertaken safely.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT IS STILL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE UNDERTAKING CONTROLLED BURNING TO FOLLOW THE SAFETY GUIDELINES

The App can be accessed on the ICNF website, https://fogos.icnf.pt/InfoQueimasQueimadas/.

CLICK ON THE ACCESS BUTTON TO REGISTER

 

“Portuguese society has never been so prepared” for summer forest fires, said Interior Minister Eduardo Cabrita, after the flag oath ceremony of 278 provisional guards (253 men and 25 women) of the GNR in Portalegre on 7^th June.

During this year, “more than ever before, we are doing more than ever in self-protection, in programs such as Safe Village, Safe People, Resilient Villages, and we have prepared the means necessary for combat,” he added.

Eduardo Cabrita recalled that there are already “more air resources available than ever before”, adding that more than 8,000 elements of various services are already available to the surveillance and combat device (program).

A “very significant” investment is being made in the Integrated System of Emergency and Security Networks of Portugal (SIRESP), namely through the duplication of the mobile units, which go from four to eight, of electrical redundancy, where there are 18 new units, and the installation of a network of 451 satellite antennas.

“In addition, in the so-called SIRESP GL system, which is an automatic reference system for all vehicles affected by the device, we are also doing very much in a very short time,” said Eduardo Cabrita.

The Minister also pointed out that ‘our aim is not to impose fines’ on owners who did not clean the land, ‘our aim is to ensure cleanliness’. At present, the authorities are warning all landlords who have not complied with the law to do so.

“I wanted to point out that the GNR over these six months has done more than five thousand sessions of awareness” on the issue of rural fires “that directly reached almost 150 thousand Portuguese,” he said.