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Situation Reports news and reviews

 

Portugal Safety and Security report Wednesday 12th February 2025

Good morning everyone. Some very changeable weather over the last few day which impacted in south west Spain and the Algarve. Yesterday strong winds in Ayamonte uprooted trees, lifted butane cylinders, dislodged solar panels and launched a cart that crashed into a house, breaking the wall and destroying the house’s bathroom.  In Ayamonte and Aljaraque due to the passage of a tornado this Tuesday afternoon power lines were destroyed and trees were uprooted in its path.  “In Pozo del Camino there was damage to streets and roofs of some houses” in the Villa Antonia area.In the Algarve according to the Civil Protection, the heavy rain that lashed the central part of the Algarve region at the end of the morning, mainly the municipalities of Loulé and Faro, caused “minor flooding on public roads and in garages”. Up 12h30, 17 occurrences were recorded, most of them flooding in the urban perimeter of the cities of Loulé and Faro. Very heavy rain in Vilamoura caused some flooding. The heaviest rain was in Loulé with 39.5mm most of it falling between 100 and 1200 hrs. The yellow level rain warning were raised by the IPMA warning everyone that heavy rain was forecasted. It is important to follow these as well as the advice of the ANEPC. We can expect more of these weather conditions during the winter season.

A reminder on the use of the 112 emergency line. According to the report from the PSP, which coordinates the European emergency number in Portugal, last year, 59% of around 3 million calls to the line were inappropriate – that is, they were not genuine or were related to situations that did not require emergency actions.

Situations that are not emergencies and therefore do not warrant a call to 911 include accidents involving only vehicle damages, vehicle theft, noise and cases in which keys are left inside the house. In these cases, the PSP advises people to call the PSP/GNR station in the area. It is important not to use the 112 line for non-emergencies, as it can result in an increase in waiting time in answering and responding to real emergency situations.

The annual “2024 Corruption Perceptions Index” was published yesterday by Transparency international.  It is the worst result ever for Portugal since this ranking began to be published, in 2012, with the same method that is currently used. Portugal’s score in 2024 was 57 compared to 61 in 2023.”100” is very clean and “0” is very corrupt. It share’s its position in 43rd place with Botswana and Rwanda.  The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories worldwide by their perceived levels of public sector corruption.

The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that corruption is a dangerous problem in every part of the world.While 32 countries have significantly reduced their corruption levels since 2012, there’s still a huge amount of work to be done – 148 countries have stayed stagnant or have become worse during the same period.

An earthquake occurring in Morocco on 10th February serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared and knowing what action to take. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Volcano Discovery and CSEM/EMSC and earthquake measuring at Mag 5.1, occurred in Morocco at a shallow depth of ten kilometres. This earthquake, did not cause any personal or material damage but was felt with maximum intensity III (modified Mercalli scale) in the municipalities of Albufeira, Faro, Loulé, Olhão, Portimão and Silves.

Our team at Safe Communities wishes you a safe and happy week ahead.

News

60 hearts collected: Portugal reaches historic milestone in heart transplants

Last year, 58 hearts were transplanted in the country’s four heart transplant units and two were sent to Spain because no suitable recipients were found in Portugal.

In 2024, Portugal reached a historic milestone in heart transplants, with 60 hearts collected, of which 58 were transplanted in the country and two in Spain, the national transplant coordinator announced to Lusa this Wednesday.

“We are celebrating a historic achievement in medicine in Portugal and in transplant medicine. In 2024 we achieved the highest number of heart transplants ever”, stated Nuno Gaibino.

The doctor highlighted that 2014 had been the best year to date, with a record 55 transplants. However, “due to a series of coincidences”, including the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a reduction in the number of transplants, which has been recovering and increasing annually.

Last year, 60 hearts were collected, 58 of which were transplanted in the four heart transplant units in the country — Hospital de São João, in Porto, Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, Hospital de Santa Cruz and Hospital de Santa Marta, both in Lisbon — and two in Spain.

Nuno Gaibino explained that the two hearts were sent to Spain because no suitable recipients were found in Portugal.

“In an effort to not waste any available organs, and also as a matter of solidarity, these two hearts were sent to Spain, where they were transplanted. In total, there were 60 transplants with the 60 hearts collected in Portugal”, highlighted the national transplant coordinator of the Portuguese Institute of Blood and Transplantation (IPST).

Although the data on global transplant activity for 2024 will only be presented on April 9, the specialist said that the National Transplant Coordination wanted to share this “very important data” with heart transplant units, but also with the general population.

Europol operation involving 14 countries arrested four Russian hackers linked to ransomware network

Ransomware is a form of digital blackmail in which hackers encrypt the data of victims (individuals, companies or institutions), blocking access to their devices or files in order to extort money from them.

An international operation against cybercrime, involving 14 countries, led to the arrest of four Russian citizens, key figures of 8Base, one of the most active ransomware groups in 2024, Europol announced this Tuesday.

The US Department of Justice also released charges on the same day against two Russians, Roman Berezhnoi , 33, and Egor Glebov , 39, specifying in a statement that they were “detained as part of a coordinated international operation to neutralize their organization.”

Another Russian citizen, Yevgeny Ptitsyn, suspected of being the administrator of the Phobos ransomware, appeared in a US federal court in November, following his extradition from South Korea, the US justice system recalled.

“A coordinated action by international law enforcement authorities last week led to the arrest of four individuals who led the 8Base ransomware group,” Europol said in a statement.

“These individuals, all of Russian nationality, are suspected of using a variant of the Phobos ransomware to extort high-value payments from victims across Europe and beyond,” the Hague-based European police agency added, without revealing their identities or the location of their arrests.

What is ransomware and how does it work?

Ransomware is a form of digital blackmail in which hackers encrypt the data of victims (individuals, companies or institutions), blocking access to their devices or files in order to extort money from them.

Cyber ​​threat intelligence identifies Phobos as one of the “most active ransomware groups of 2024,” according to Europol.

The agency also said that 27 servers linked to the criminal network were taken out of service.

 

 Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 12 February 2025

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all wherever you may be reading this latest Algarve report from. At the turn of the year after over 20 years of Tolls along the main A22 Motorway which crosses the Algarve was finally made free to travel along. There had been many protests about the charges that were instigated by the government, not least because many felt that as it was paid for by EU money there should not have been tolls put in place in the beginning.

Well, after just 6 weeks there are many in politics who feel that this may have been a hasty decision!

Deputies from the Socialist Party ( PS ) warned the Government about the degradation of the Via do Infante road surface, proposing a regular maintenance plan for the A22 and the removal of the old toll booths.

Jamila Madeira, Jorge Botelho and Luís Graça draw attention to the “foreseeable increase in road traffic” with the implementation of the end of tolls on the A22, a situation that, according to the party, “requires renewed attention from the Government to maintaining the quality of the road surface”.

Luís Graça, MP and president of the PS Algarve federation, recalls that “even during the concession period, when the payment of tolls was supposed to guarantee the provision of a high-quality road, the degradation of the road surface on Via do Infante was a recurring cause for concern for socialist MPs and mayors”.

With the end of tolls and the increase in the number of vehicles using the A22, a “more demanding” maintenance and conservation plan is required. “In several sections, the surface of the Via do Infante already shows clear signs of degradation. With winter, the end of tolls and the increase in traffic, the surface will wear out more quickly, so it is important that Infraestruturas de Portugal implement measures to guarantee the safety of users”, concluded the socialist deputy. The deputies also requested the removal of the old toll gates, with “particular urgency” for those that remain on the Guadiana River border and that “despite the end of tolls, they still alert drivers entering Portugal from Spain to the existence of a toll road”.

“The end of tolls restored justice to territorial cohesion, favouring mobility and road safety, the economy and tourism in a region that had no decent alternative to driving on the A22”, considers the PS. Whether this is a case of the old regime having a go at the new government we will find out soon enough if they are right and the road starts to deteriorate with the increased traffic.

Now a look at some of the other news stories from around the region.

PSP Arrests 3 People in Tavira for Drug Trafficking

The Faro PSP District Command reports that, during the course of yesterday 10th February, it arrested three suspects, two men and a woman aged between 42 and 56, for trafficking in narcotics, through the Criminal Investigation Brigade of its Tavira Police Station.

This police action resulted from an investigation that had been carried out over the last few months, in which it was possible to determine that the suspects were carrying out their criminal activity in the city centre of Tavira , in the form of direct sales to consumers, which caused instability and concern among the resident population.

Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, two home search warrants were issued, which were carried out yesterday morning.

The searches carried out resulted in the seizure of 146 individual doses of cocaine, two individual doses of heroin, two bladed weapons, two vehicles and other materials and articles commonly used in the criminal practice in question. The suspects were therefore arrested.They will be brought to court today for questioning and the application of coercive measures.

The Faro District Command is confident that, as a result of this action, the usual tranquility will be restored in that area of ​​the city of Tavira.

Man Arrested for Attempted Rape of a Woman in Albufeira

The Judicial Police (PJ) arrested a 38-year-old man suspected of having attempted to rape a woman in Albufeira, after entering her home without her consent, that police force announced this Saturday (8th).

In a statement, the PJ revealed that the attempted rape took place in the early hours of Tuesday (4th), with the suspect being arrested the following day. The 48-year-old woman was allegedly coerced into sexual acts by the man who entered her home without her knowledge or consent, the PJ explained.

The PJ pointed out that the woman suffered bodily injuries when defending herself from the attacker. “In 2024, the suspect entered the victim’s home, although he was never identified, a situation that caused him anxiety and fear at night,” the police force stressed.

The detainee was held in preventive detention after being present for the first judicial interrogation, a coercive measure that may be replaced by an obligation to remain at home.

Four Suspected Thieves Arrested in Lagos

The PSP arrested this Friday, the 7th, four suspects of burglary in residences, who tried to escape by jumping over the fence of a school in Lagos, with one of the group members being injured by a gunshot, the corporation reported. “Following this escape, one of the suspects was shot in the foot, at which point all of the aforementioned individuals were intercepted,” the PSP said in a statement, arguing that “warning shots were fired into the air” during the operation.

The detainees belonged to a group suspected of burglaries inside homes and were approached by the PSP while they were travelling in a car, having started to flee, first by car and then on foot, said the police force. “In this sense, the PSP pursued the four suspects on foot, with warning shots being fired into the air by the police officers involved, and the suspects, in order to avoid being approached by the police, jumped over the wall and fence of a school”, the security force explained. It was “following this escape” that the injured person “was hit by a gunshot in the foot”, explained the PSP, highlighting that the educational establishment “was used unexpectedly by the suspects” without causing injuries among students and other users.

The security force stressed that the injured suspect received emergency medical assistance at the scene and was then taken to a hospital unit, where he will receive treatment.

The case is now under the jurisdiction of the Judicial Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the “circumstances of the incident will be investigated in a criminal and disciplinary investigation”, the PSP noted.

The police stressed that there is “no link of criminal intent in relation to the educational establishment”.

The PSP statement comes after the mayor of Lagos said that a group of men who were trying to escape from the authorities had tried to hide in a primary school in Lagos, in an incident in which police had fired shots into the air outside the school.

According to Hugo Pereira, the four men were fleeing the PSP in a car, but when they realized they had no way out, they started to flee on foot and some of them jumped into the Escola Básica do Bairro Operário to hide. “Some were arrested when they tried to jump over the school wall and others were already inside the school perimeter, but the main action took place outside the school,” he said, adding that during the chase shots were fired into the air in an attempt to stop them.

According to the mayor, the men, who were already under police investigation, were intercepted by car outside the school area, located near the center of Lagos.

Hugo Pereira added that most of the students did not even realize what had happened, taking the opportunity to praise the security forces for the way they handled the situation.

PSP Arrests Man for Drug Trafficking in Portimao

The Faro PSP District Command, through the Criminal Investigation Squad of the Portimão Police Division, arrested a 23-year-old man on Thursday (6th) for the crime of drug trafficking, the police force reported .

“The police officers involved were on preventive patrol and found that the suspect was inside a vehicle, accompanied by another citizen later identified, apparently dealing in narcotics, which prompted their prompt approach,” the PSP explained in a statement.

The approach resulted in confirmation of the suspicion, “with significant quantities of narcotics (hashish) having been seized spread across various compartments of the vehicle in question, which led to its detention”, the note continues.

Following the arrest, further police investigations were carried out, with a total of around 4,300 doses of hashish, 2,430 euros in notes of various denominations, a baseball bat and various materials commonly used in the development of this criminal activity being seized.

According to the PSP, the detainee will likely appear before a judicial authority today for possible application of coercive measures.

Algarve Lack of Candidates for Medical Positions

The Algarve continues to have great difficulties in attracting doctors to its hospital units, with positions advertised receiving virtually no applicants. The Algarve Local Health Unit published a notice in the Official Gazette, advertised a job in the category of assistant, hospital area, medical career, Cardiology specialty, but the result was a severe lack of candidates.

Another notice was published, for “two jobs in the assistant category, hospital area, medical career, specialty of General Surgery” and again received virtually no candidates.

An Internal Medicine specialty job “was deserted due to the sole candidate being excluded for not meeting the admission requirements for the competition procedure”.

Three jobs advertised in the specialty of Psychiatry received just one candidate, who was approved.

New Algarve Town Approved by President of RepublicThe President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has promulgated the decree that elevates Boliqueime, in the municipality of Loulé, to the category of town. This follows hot on the heels of Almancil becoming a City. The decree-law, presented by the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party (PS), had been unanimously approved in the plenary session of the Assembly of the Republic on 17 January.

The proposal to elevate Boliqueime to the status of town was presented in September 2024 by the socialist deputies elected by the Faro constituency, Jamila Madeira, Luís Graça and Jorge Botelho, joined by fellow socialist deputy Pedro Delgado Alves.

The document was approved conclusively, with favourable votes from deputies from all benches, in the plenary session on October 4th of last year.

To end this report — Lagos Chosen to Host Portugal Day Celebrations

The celebrations of Portugal Day (10 June) will take place this year in Lagos, extending to the Portuguese community in Macau. The order of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, dated 30 January and published in the Official Gazette, designates “the city of Lagos as the venue for the celebrations of the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities, in 2025, extending the celebrations to the Portuguese community in Macau”.

The document establishes that “a Commission chaired by Dr. Lídia Jorge, writer, is set up to organize the celebrations”, without giving details about the schedule of the celebrations.

The city of Lagos is once again the stage for the celebrations of Portugal Day, 29 years after the 10th of June was celebrated there in 1996 by the then President of the Republic Jorge Sampaio.

Speaking to Lusa, the mayor of Lagos, Hugo Pereira, said that “the designation is a great honour and a historic recognition for the Algarve city”.

“It is a source of pride for all the people of Lagos because it projects the city and its role in the national economy, also highlighting its importance as the city of Discoveries,” he emphasised.

Hugo Pereira also highlighted the “honour of having the Algarve writer Lídia Jorge chairing the organising committee for the celebrations, in a program that will be defined by the Presidency of the Republic and that will have the full support of the municipality”.

In 2024, Portugal Day celebrations took place in three municipalities in Leiria affected by the 2017 fires and in Coimbra, extending the celebrations to the Portuguese community in Switzerland.

Switzerland was the seventh country to host the celebration, after France (2016), Brazil (2017), the United States (2018), Cape Verde (2019), the United Kingdom (2022) and South Africa (2023).

Until the next time Stay Safe

 

Portugal Safety and Security report Wednesday 5th February 2025

Good afternoon. You may have noticed from our Facebook post yesterday, that following meetings with the GNR and PSP, we have appointed two persons to represent our work in the area of Caldas da Rainha, where there is a sizable and growing foreign community. Our representatives Janet and Martin Searle are volunteers who are keen to serve the community in supporting and promoting the work of the GNR and PSP.

Primarily this supporting role includes: fostering further engagement between the foreign community and PSP and GNR, the joint organisation of activities, helping to promote the work of the PSP and GNR including any key messages they wished to communicate to the public, and raising with the GNR and PSP any safety/security issues of local concern. For those living in the Caldas da Rainha area including Obidos, any local issues can be raised with Safe Communities at caldas@safecommunitiesportugal.com

If you are keen to help as a volunteer in a similar capacity in your area, Safe Communities is keen to hear from you. We can be contacted at info@safecommunitiesportugal.com

EUROPOL warned a few days ago of the growing problem of the online trafficking of counterfeit medicines. In 2024 Operation SHIELD V removed more than €11 million in illegal drugs from the market, involving 418 arrests and the dismantling of several criminal networks. They warn that: buying medicines in unauthorized and controlled locations puts your health at risk and funds organized crime. Selling sub-standard, falsely labelled, or falsified pharmaceutical products, as well as products diverted from the legal supply chain, organised crime networks are behind a wide range of illicit medicines and doping substances. EUROPOL’S advice is to be responsible and protect yourself from this type of fraud, and avoid unverified selling platforms especially on social media.

Some good news this week is the is the dismantling  in Spain by the Guardia Civil police of a very violent group that targeted luxury homes in Spain and Portugal. The group is suspects of a two million euros in watches, jewellery and cash armed robbery in Vilamoura, Algarve, in earlier January and also suspected of an attempted robbery at a house in Faro at the end of last year. It is believed that the value of the recovered objects, could exceed 10 million euros and until now 16 crimes committed in Cádiz, Málaga, Seville, Córdoba, Murcia, Alicante and Portugal have been clarified. The operation has led to the arrest of the seven main members of the group, all of Albanian origin, and the recovery of various stolen items. This is a good example of excellent international police cooperation.

With the colder weather especially overnight, a reminder of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home. Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully. Gas, oil, coal and wood are sources of fuel used in many household appliances, including: boilers, gas fires, central heating systems, water heaters, cookers and open fires. Incorrectly installed, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated household appliances, such as cookers, heaters and central heating boilers, are the most common causes of accidental exposure to carbon monoxide.

Other possible causes of carbon monoxide poisoning include: blocked flues and chimneys – this can stop carbon monoxide escaping, allowing it to reach dangerous levels or burning fuel in an enclosed or unventilated space – for example, running a car engine, petrol-powered generator inside a garage, or a faulty boiler in an enclosed kitchen.

It is important to be aware of the dangers and identify any appliances in your house that could potentially leak carbon monoxide. Boilers, cookers, heating systems and appliances should be installed and regularly serviced by a reputable, registered engineer. Do not attempt to install or service appliances yourself. Install a carbon monoxide alarm in your home to alert you if there’s a carbon monoxide leak. Make sure it’s approved to the latest European Standard (EN50291). However an alarm is not a substitute for maintaining and regularly servicing household appliances.

Our team at Safe Communities wish you a safe week ahead.

News

Everything that happens anywhere in Europe concerns all Europeans, says Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

“Our borders are the borders of our European partners and brothers. What concerns them concerns us”, said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, during an official visit to the Czech Republic.

The President of the Republic described the current situation as “very sensitive” this Wednesday, particularly in the area of ​​security, and argued that “everything that happens anywhere in Europe concerns all Europeans”.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was speaking at the Kaiserstein Palace in Prague during a meeting with representatives of the Portuguese community in the Czech Republic, where he arrived this Wednesday and will stay until Thursday, for an official visit, at the invitation of the Czech President, Petr Pavel.

According to the head of state, this visit — like others planned for March to Estonia and Slovenia — “has a special significance” because it takes place at a “very sensitive time for the world and for Europe, and in particular for security on the European continent”.

“Of course, everything that happens anywhere in Europe concerns all Europeans,” he said, noting that this is also the position of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and his predecessor and current President of the European Council, António Costa.

“Our borders are the borders of our European partners and brothers. What concerns them concerns us. It is not the fact that we are further away or closer that takes away the meaning of solidarity at all levels,” he added.

For the President of the Republic, this official visit to the Czech Republic will be an opportunity to analyze the current situation in Europe “bringing together different points of view, from a more regional perspective, in one case, and from a more universal perspective, in the other”.

The Czech Republic, a member of NATO since 1999 and of the European Union since 2004, has as its President Petr Pavel, a retired general, who chaired the NATO Military Committee between 2015 and 2018 and before that, between 2012 and 2015, was Chief of Staff of the Czech Armed Forces.

SNS 24 line answered more than 500 thousand calls in January

The president of the Board of Directors of the Ministry of Health said that the institution “does not identify” with the waiting times experienced on SNS 24 lines during the Christmas and New Year period.

The SNS 24 Line reached a new high in January with more than 500,000 calls answered, the president of the Board of Directors of the Ministry of Health’s Shared Services (SPMS) announced this Tuesday.

The assessment was made by Sandra Cavaca, who was being heard by the parliamentary Health committee at the request of the PS about access to emergency services and the failures that occurred in recent weeks.

According to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the use of the SNS 24 line has been increasing and in January a new high was reached with more than 500 thousand calls answered.

In response to socialist MP Susana Correia, who expressed concern about the impact of the line on improving the provision of health care, Sandra Cavaca recalled that in 2024, 3.5 million calls were answered, with an average waiting time of three minutes.

The “significant growth” compared to 2023 was possible due to the reinforcement of the response capacity which, according to the person in charge, almost doubled, but Sandra Cavaca recognizes that there are “specific situations” that impact waiting times.

At Christmas time , between the 23rd and 27th of December, for example, more than 91 thousand calls were answered , registering an increase of 131% compared to the same period of the previous year, and despite the increase in the number of professionals, the average waiting time was around nine minutes , with 72% of calls being answered within 15 minutes.

Between December 30th and January 3rd, the SNS 24 line answered 96 thousand calls, 112% more than in the same period in 2023, with an average response time of 11 minutes.

“ SPMS does not agree with these results , it is not what satisfies us, but it is to resolve these situations that we work in partnership with our operator to improve these times and reach the satisfaction we had in the past”, he said.

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 5th February 2025

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all. With all the rain we have had in the past week or so it is pleasing to hear that the reservoirs that feed the Algarve are at 50% and should have enough water for us to use until well into 2026. At the same time there was news that The Government has decided to propose to the European Commission (EC) the transfer of funding for the Albufeira Desalination Plant and the Pomarão Water Intake projects, on the Guadiana, initially planned in the Recovery and Resilience Programme ( RRP ), to the Climate Action and Sustainability Programme (Sustainable 2030).

According to a statement sent to newsrooms, this transfer is part of the reprogramming of funds (PRR and PT 2030, in which Sustentável 2030 is integrated), which is in the process of being submitted to the European Commission.

For the Government, this decision brings several advantages, such as “an increase in the contribution of community funding to projects, which could reach 85%, a two-year extension of the deadline for carrying out works and greater flexibility in management”. The note states that the Pisão Dam project will also follow its normal course, “no longer being integrated into the PRR and now being financed by Portugal 2030 and the State Budget”.

The Albufeira Desalination Plant, Pomarão Water Intake and Pisão Dam projects are of great importance in the set of measures that have been taken to ensure the water resilience of the Algarve and Alentejo, a commitment made by the Government from the outset.

On this subject, Cristóvão Norte, president of PSD Algarve, assures that “the decision to build the desalination plant and capture water from Pomarão are moving forward. They are a reality. No delays from the past will stop the projects. The origin of the financing is not relevant, what is important is its implementation”. There is still a lot of opposition from various groups opposed to the desalination plant being built and it remains to be seen if this change of funding will have any effect on the governments thinking regarding the best way to go to ensure the region has a good supply of water.

Now for a look at some of the other news stories from the region.

Parachutists Rescued From Sea near Ferragudo

Four parachutists, two instructors of Portuguese nationality and two practitioners of Scottish nationality, were today, January 31, assisted by the crew of the Ferragudo Lifeguard Station, after having fallen into the water while practicing the activity, next to Três Irmãos beach, in the municipality of Portimão .

Following an alert received at 11:25 am, through a parachuting services company, crew members from the Ferragudo Lifeguard Station and members of the local command of the Portimão Maritime Police were activated. Members of the Portimão Volunteer Firefighters and the INEM Emergency and Resuscitation Medical Vehicle (VMER) also went to the scene. When they arrived at the scene, the Lifeguard Station crew collected the equipment from the water and helped the swimmers, who were showing “signs of fatigue”.

According to the National Maritime Authority , the victims were assisted by members of the VMER, with one of the instructors, aged 40, being transported to a hospital by firefighters, showing signs of “exhaustion and hypothermia”.

The local command of the Portimão Maritime Police took charge of the incident.

Albufeira Leads the Way in Automatic External Defibrillator Program Nationwide

12 new defibrillation units have been installed recently in places such as Galé beach, Ribeiro Park, Branqueira, Estrada das Fontainhas, Olhos de Água beach, Estrada das Açoteias, Rossio, Almeijoafras ( Paderne ), Albufeira Road, Vilamoura Road, Cerro do Ouro Educational Center and Albufeira Multipurpose Space, according to a note from Albufeira City Council.

The municipality’s investment in this type of equipment makes Albufeira the municipality with the most AEDs (Automatic External Defibrillators) of a community nature, in absolute terms, nationwide. At the beginning of 2025, there were already a total of 62 AEDs integrated into the Community PDAE, placing the municipality ahead of other Portuguese municipalities with AED equipment installed on public roads.

This investment, which amounts to around 100 thousand euros per year, is also the largest recorded in the country. Currently, considering only its DAE Programme, Albufeira has in its geographical area around 14 facilities for every 10 thousand inhabitants, a number significantly higher than the national average, which is an average of four facilities for the same number of people.

The Mayor , José Carlos Rolo, emphasizes that “with this DAE Program, Albufeira effectively invests in training the population and community assistance, aiming to protect human life”.

In addition to purchasing and installing equipment, the local authority has invested heavily in training and capacity building for the population, offering courses in Basic Life Support (BLS) with AEDs for residents. To date, more than 1,400 people have been included in the Program as community first responders, a number that represents around 3% of the population living in the municipality.

The local authority would like to point out that over the last two years, simulation exercises have also been carried out with the aim of testing the functionality of the programme, both in terms of human resources and the technological component, as well as in the simulation of response times. These exercises have demonstrated the effectiveness of the programme and the usefulness of AED equipment on public roads and in municipal facilities.

In order to speed up response times to medical emergencies, the Albufeira PDAE is directly connected to the security and rescue forces, who receive information about the activation of equipment in real time.

Since the implementation of the program, there have been several successful cases. In 2021, a 21-year-old Portuguese man was saved by one of these devices, and the same happened in the case of a 27-year-old Irish man in 2024.

11-year-old Child Dies After Being Hit by a Truck in Albufeira

An 11-year-old child died on Thursday, the 30th, after being fatally run over by a truck on an avenue in the city of Albufeira, revealed a source from the Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command ( CREPC ).

The rescue teams received the alert at 5:32 pm and, upon arriving at the scene, they came across “a hit-and-run by a heavy goods vehicle”, which resulted in the death of the girl, a Brazilian national, the same source added.

The accident occurred “in an urban area, right within Albufeira”, on one of the city’s main avenues, Avenida dos Descobrimentos, he said.

The CDOS source highlighted that the child still received assistance, but death was declared, at the scene, by the doctor from the Emergency and Resuscitation Medical Vehicle (VMER) of the National Institute of Medical Emergency ( INEM ).

Providing assistance at the scene were 23 operatives, including members of the Albufeira Fire Department, INEM and GNR, with nine vehicles.

Man Arrested for Threatening Behaviour Against Police Officers

A 65 year old man was arrested on Tuesday, after two off-duty police officers from the Special Police Unit came across the individual “committing dangerous driving acts.”

The two police officers, while driving their private vehicle in Faro, came across the man, who was “committing dangerous driving acts, a circumstance that almost culminated in a traffic accident”, says the PSP. “The suspect insulted and threatened the police officers using a bladed weapon, at which point they identified themselves by showing their professional ID, and immobilized the suspect”.

With the assistance of the Faro Criminal Investigation Squad, a search of the suspect and his house were carried out, which resulted in the seizure of 197 individual doses of cocaine, a bladed weapon with a total length of 30 centimetres and around €3100 in cash.

The detainee already has a “criminal record for violent crimes and drug trafficking”, says the PSP. 

“Taxa Zero” Road Safety Campaign Begins on 4 February.

A new road safety campaign starts across the country tomorrow, lasting until Monday February 10, and will be out in force on the nation’s road, breathalysing drivers. The focus will be on “taxa zero” – zero sign of alcohol in the blood.

 As if the campaign needed any explanation, a statement by the police/ ANSR (authority for road safety) states:

“In  Portugal in 2023, one in four drivers killed in road accidents had a blood alcohol level of 0.5 g/l or more and three in four of these drivers had a level of 1.2 g/l or more. Of all the road accident victims autopsied, 23% had a blood alcohol level higher than the legally permitted limit, of which 73% exceeded the level considered criminal (=1.20 g/l).

Until the next time Stay Safe..

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 5th February 2025

Research resumes for missing fisherman on Santa Maria Island

Authorities resumed searches on Monday morning to try to locate a 34-year-old fisherman who is missing in Vila do Porto, on the island of Santa Maria.

Search operations are coordinated by the harbour captain and Local Commander of the Maritime Police of Vila do Porto.

According to a statement from AMN, elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police and the Port Authority of Vila do Porto and the Volunteer Fire Department of Santa Maria, a ship from the Portuguese Navy and an aircraft from the Portuguese Air Force are involved.

The fisherman was reported missing on Saturday, “after allegedly not returning from fishing.”

Following an alert received at 8:45 pm last Saturday, searches were initiated by the Local Command of the Maritime Police and the Port Authority of Vila do Porto.

AMN said in a press release on Sunday that the alert came from a family member, who reported that the man “had not returned from fishing”.

Immediately after the alert, elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Vila do Porto began searches between Ponta do Marvão and Prainha, having been interrupted at 00:00 on Sunday.

Authorities resumed operations on Sunday morning, with elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police, the Port Authority of Vila do Porto and the Volunteer Fire Department of Santa Maria, and with the involvement of an aircraft from the Portuguese Air Force.

The search operations, coordinated by the port captain and Local Commander of the Maritime Police of Vila do Porto, were interrupted at the end of Sunday afternoon, “without having found the victim”.

The Maritime Police Psychology Office has been activated and is providing support to the victim’s family.

Man arrested in Horta for theft inside a residence

The PSP of Horta, on the island of Faial, arrested, in flagrante delicto, a 24-year-old man, for the alleged practice of the crime of theft inside a residence, in the parish of Praia do Almoxarife

According to a statement from the Azores PSP Regional Command, “1000 euros in cash and various objects originating from other criminal offences committed by the suspect were seized and recovered.

The defendant, who already had a criminal record for the same criminal activity, after being brought to his first judicial interrogation, was subject to “the obligation to report periodically to the Police Station, a ban on frequenting places associated with the sale and/or consumption of narcotics, a ban on contact with any person involved in the sale and/or consumption of narcotics and subject to treatment for drug addiction in an institution”.

The Horta Police Division recommends that “all citizens, whenever they become aware of suspicious situations or those related to the practice of illicit activities, contact, as soon as possible and by any means, any PSP Police Station in order to trigger police intervention in a timely manner and in order to better serve the community”.

My Saúde Açores application available from this Tuesday for all users in the archipelago

The ‘My Saúde Açores’ application, which allows you to schedule appointments and access telemedicine, among other features, is available from yesterday for all users in the archipelago, revealed the regional secretary for Health and Social Security

One of the main objectives of this application is to improve proximity and accessibility to healthcare for our users

Budgeted at 3.5 million euros, the application is part of the Azores Digital Hospital project, financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), for a total of 30 million euros.

After an initial phase, in which it was tested in a closed environment for around a month on the island of São Miguel, ‘My Saúde Açores’ is now open to the entire population of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

The application will allow, for example, the scheduling and request of consultations, within the scope of primary health care, and the carrying out of teleconsultations, which will be an added value especially on islands without a hospital.

To access the application, users must enter their user number, which appears on their Citizen Card, and associate a mobile phone number, but the same mobile phone number can be associated with several users.

This way it is possible to register older people who do not use this type of tool, but whose family members or carers may have access to appointments or some type of information that concerns them.

The application will also present “informative content”, to “contribute to improving health literacy”, and may have alerts from the Regional Health Directorate or other institutions of the Regional Health Service.

During the first half of the year, new tools will be introduced.

There will be interoperability between the different health systems, both in hospitals and in the island’s health units. This has been a very strong demand from health professionals,

In addition to the User Portal, a portal will be created for doctors and another for boards of directors.

As part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the goal was set for the application to have 25,000 hits by September.

Government of the Azores with an action plan to combat the Asian hornet

An action plan to determine the location and geographic extent affected by the Asian hornet has been implemented by the Government of the Azores, following the detection of the insect in the region, the regional executive announced.

The plan, implemented by the Regional Directorate of Agriculture, Veterinary and Food and the Agrarian Development Service of São Miguel, includes partnerships with several entities in the fight against and attempt to eradicate the Asian wasp.

According to a press release from the Azorean executive, on January 27th the Regional Directorate of Agriculture, Veterinary and Food was informed of the “existence of a wasp nest on a private property, in Areias de Rabo de Peixe, São Miguel Island”.

The nest was collected and, “after technical expertise, it was found that it belonged to individuals of the species Vespa Velutina Nigrithorax, commonly known as the Asian wasp”.

According to the Regional Government, this is a “predatory insect, causing serious negative impacts on the environment, biodiversity and beekeeping, and is also a safety problem for the population, as it is very aggressive when disturbed”.

The action plan “with a view to determining the location and geographical extent affected by this insect” includes the creation of a brigade specializing in the distribution, assembly and monitoring of wasp traps and a security perimeter within a five-kilometre radius of the outbreak.

Around 30 traps were installed on surrounding land and in the 18 apiaries within the intervention perimeter.

The Azorean executive states that the insect arrived on the continent in 2011, and at the time, a preventive surveillance system was established in the Azores for the presence of the insect.

“Until this sighting, no evidence had been detected” of its presence in the region, concludes the Government of the Azores.

 

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 29th January 2025

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all wherever you may be reading this report. Usually we start off with a subject that has been in the news over the past week and is relevant to our aims of Safety and Security. This week we are slightly off that remit in that I am writing to inform you if you were not already a resident of Almancil that you will soon be a city dweller! Yes, in the past week in Parliament, it was approved and announced that Almancil fulfills the criteria of a city! Like me I am sure a number of you will ask what is the criteria? Well here are the requirements that have to be addressed in order to be able to get “City” Status.

According to the legislation, a locality that has more than eight thousand voters and at least half of the following facilities may be elevated to the category of city: hospital facilities, pharmacies, fire brigade , entertainment venue and cultural center, museums and library, hotel facilities, preparatory and secondary education establishment, pre-primary education establishment and nurseries, public transport and parks or public gardens.

Almancil is a parish in the municipality of Loulé, with an area of ​​62.30 square kilometers and 10,677 inhabitants, according to the 2021 Census, a population increase that has almost doubled since 1981.Being that the area consists of the two major Holiday com[plexes, Vilamoura and Vale do Lobo it does beg the question, do you have to be a permanent resident to be part of the 8,000 people. Anyway, just what this elevation to City status means to the area we will wait to see but from all of us a Safe Communities, Congratulations.

Now  a look at some of the other news from our region this last week.

Big Haul of Hashish Washed UP on Algarve Beach

The National Republican Guard ( GNR ) seized more than 93 kilos of hashish last week on the Costa Vicentina and in the western Algarve, the security force announced. The Maritime Police also seized 369 kilos of hashish found on several beaches.

In a statement, the force responsible for customs inspection and coastal control informs that, following the worsening of weather conditions and sea conditions, the Coastal and Border Control Unit (UCCF) has intensified patrols along the coastline over the last few days.

On Thursday (23rd), on Manuel Lourenço beach (Guia), the military detected and seized a bale of burlap with hashish inside, weighing a total of 43.5 kilos. They also seized, on the same day, on Cordoama beach ( Vila do Bispo ), several packages containing drugs, with a total weight of 4.5 kilos.

On Mareta beach (Sagres), on Friday (24th), the military detected and seized a bale of burlap containing hashish, weighing 45.05 kilos.

According to the GNR, the operation was coordinated by the UCCF and the Faro Territorial Command, involving land and sea patrol teams in coastal areas.

On Friday, the Maritime Police (PM) also announced that in the last three days they had seized 369 kilograms of hashish found on the Algarve coast, on beaches in the municipalities of Faro, Portimão and Lagos.

Injured Fisherman Airlifted from Cliff to Hospital

A recreational fisherman who fell this Saturday, the 25th, on a cliff in the municipality of Aljezur, was transported by helicopter with serious injuries, early in the evening, to a hospital unit, revealed the National Maritime Authority ( AMN ).

In a statement, AMN said that a 68-year-old man was in a difficult-to-access area and was initially rescued by the Aljezur Volunteer Firefighters. According to AMN, the victim had suffered an accidental fall on a cliff while fishing at Ponta da Atalaia, in the municipality of Aljezur.

The alert was received at 5:17 pm, through the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center, reporting a person falling off a cliff.

According to AMN, elements of the local command of the Lagos Maritime Police , the Aljezur Volunteer Firefighters and an INEM helicopter were sent to the scene. “The victim, who had suspected fractures, was later transported to a hospital by INEM helicopter,” said AMN.

PSP Launch Operation To Prevent Violence and Possession of Weapons in Schools 

On the 27th January, the Public Security Police launched the operation “Violence? No, thanks!”, to raise awareness among students in the 3rd cycle of primary and secondary education on issues such as school violence, the use and possession of weapons and juvenile delinquency.

In addition to raising awareness, students are also encouraged to resolve their conflicts peacefully, using dialogue rather than violence.

In a statement, the PSP say that the incidents recorded in the 2023/2024 school year, within the scope of the Safe School Program (PES), increased compared to 2022/2023, although they are still below the average of the last decade (4,445).This operation, which runs until the end of January, is part of the PES, an integrated community policing model under which the PSP is responsible for security in more than 3,170 public, private and cooperative education schools, involving a total of 902,000 students and 150,000 teachers and operational assistants.

The police officers from the Safe School Program teams involved in these actions teach students some approaches to resolving conflicts, methods to calm down when they feel angry, and also explain to them who they can turn to for help.

During these awareness-raising activities, in addition to characterising juvenile delinquency, the officers explain to the students the consequences of violent behaviour, warning them that, despite being minors, there are consequences that could affect their future if they commit acts that could be classified as a crime.

In the 2022/2023 school year, 3,824 incidents related to school spaces (inside, outside and home-school-home routes) were recorded by the Safe School Program teams, while in the last school year the number rose to 4,107.

Of the total number of incidents recorded last school year, 2,956 were of a criminal nature, which is equivalent to 72% of the total recorded within the scope of the PES. Of all the criminal incidents recorded, 71.4% took place on school premises. The most reported incidents continue to be assaults, insults and threats.

The PSP also says that in the last academic year, the lowest number of robberies in the last five years was recorded (75), which represents a decrease of around 9% compared to the same period.

In the 2023/2024 school year, 38 incidents involving the use and/or possession of weapons were recorded (four more), with five firearms, 30 bladed weapons and four weapons of other types detected, representing an increase of 11.4%.

In total, in the 2023/2024 school year, the PSP carried out around 32,000 thematic awareness-raising actions that had the participation of more than 703,400 students, 24,500 more than in the previous year. The most addressed topics were ‘bullying’ and ‘cyberbullying’, domestic and dating violence, alcohol and drug use and prevention, and road safety.

The PSP reminds that the police officers assigned to the PES teams are always present and available to receive reports, advise and support victims, their families and the entire school community.

Man Arrested In Quarteira for Burglary and Car Theft

The GNR in Loulé arrested a 38 year old man on January 21st, suspected of thefts from homes, shops and a vehicle in Quarteira over the past four months.

During the police investigations, GNR officers managed to locate the suspect, who was driving a stolen vehicle at the time of being arrested on January 13th. The car was equipped with false license plates, which were also stolen.

During the operation, several items were recovered and seized, including: a light vehicle, two false license plates, three watches, a mobile phone and a lock pick. The recovered vehicle will be returned to the rightful owner.

The detainee is being held at GNR facilities and will be brought before the Faro Judicial Court today, Thursday, to apply the respective coercive measures.

Council Threatening Demolition of Illegal Algarve Properties

Loule Council is threatening to crack down hard on illicit buildings around the area. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in illegal construction in the municipality of Loulé, especially through the installation of wooden or modular structures on rustic land. In most cases, these buildings are intended for housing that does not meet legal requirements. Furthermore, they are often located in areas subject to administrative easements or public utility restrictions, as stipulated in the Municipal Master Plan (PDM) in force, namely in areas classified as National Agricultural Reserve (RAN) and National Ecological Reserve (REN).

Because of this, the council states that: “it is essential to once again alert all citizens that these illicit practices are subject to measures to protect urban legality. Such measures are provided for in Decree-Law No. 555/99 of December 16, in its most recent version, approved by Decree-Law No. 10/2024 of January 8, in particular in articles 102 to 109. The most severe sanction is the demolition of buildings if it is concluded that they are not eligible for licensing or legalisation”.

The council also adds that the recent change to the Urbanisation and Building Legal Regime (RJUE), in force since January 8, establishes the application of this regime to modular constructions. These are defined as structures that use modular construction systems, produced partially or entirely in a factory, and which can be fixed or transportable. “Therefore, these constructions are considered urban operations that require a prior favourable opinion from the City Council, without prejudice to the need for opinions from other entities, as stipulated in the RJUE or in specific legislation”.

Due to this situation, the council is working to raise awareness among all owners and potential purchasers of rural land about the importance of obtaining correct information before investing in constructions or structures that may be considered illegal. “Carrying out these works may result in the preparation of reports and the application of severe sanctions, including charges of crimes of violation of urban planning rules and administrative possession for the coercive demolition of the buildings.

“In addition to the financial and legal damages to offenders, these situations represent a diversion of essential public resources (if coercive demolition is carried out, with all the logistics inherent to the procedure), resources that could be channelled towards the basic needs of the population. After the demolition, the expense will be invoiced to the offending citizen. “Furthermore, there is a negative environmental impact, with significant damage to the landscape and natural heritage of the municipality”.

Until the next time Stay Safe

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 29th January 2025

Good morning everyone. We start with the results of a study in the journal Nature Medicine that an increase in global average temperature of between 3 and 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century would lead to the death of 2.3 million people in Europe due to heat.

The study published on Monday, which modelled the impact of rising global average temperatures on 854 urban areas in 30 European countries, reveals that some of the most affected cities would be Spanish cities such as Barcelona, ​​Madrid and Valencia.

The researchers considered three temperature scenarios: one in which the Paris Agreement to combat climate change is met and global temperatures do not rise more than 2 degrees by the end of the century; another in which they rise between 2 and 3 degrees; and a third, of between 3 and 4 degrees of increase by the end of the century, which is where we are heading according to the current emissions trajectory.

The good news is that researchers found that in the most optimistic scenario, in which emissions are reduced and the Paris Agreement is implemented, limiting the increase in global average temperature to 2 degrees by the end of the century, 70% of deaths from high temperatures could be avoided. These findings however, do not take into account the President of the US Donald Trump’s intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and the impact this may have in climate change adaptation.

World leaders and dozens of Holocaust survivors gathered Monday at the former site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Poland to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation by Soviet troops at the end of World War II. The ceremony is regarded as the likely last major observance of Auschwitz’s liberation that any notable number of survivors will be able to attend, due to their advanced ages.

Dozens of world leaders and dignitaries attended the ceremony, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Britain’s King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron, but all were asked by organizers not to speak at the ceremony. Instead survivors of the holocaust spoke instead some decrying the rise of the far right and increased antisemitism in Germany and beyond.

Remembering the Holocaust and learning from history, are critically important in the current context, characterised by antisemitism and Holocaust denial, and distortion and trivialisation of history, caused or amplified by digital technology, social media, and foreign interference and propaganda.

As is normal this time of the year, rough seas along our coastlines become more intense and frequent. Today Wednesday from 1800 hrs to 1200 tomorrow all coastal districts will raise the red level warning, the highest on a scale of four levels. Waves of 7 8 metres are expected with a maximum of 15 metres possible.

The authority’s advice, in these conditions, is to take special care in traffic along coastal roads and river areas historically more vulnerable to coastal flooding avoiding, if possible, movement and staying in these places; not to practice activities related to the sea, namely sport fishing, nautical sports and seaside walks; avoiding parking vehicles very close to the seashore and to pay attention to weather information and directions of Civil Protection and Security Forces.

Our team wish you a happy and safe week ahead.

News

Mayor of Lisbon wants more police in Lisbon to counter violence

Mayor Carlos Moedas insists that the capital needs “more PSP” and that the Municipal Police “can make arrests”, because, he argued, crimes may have decreased but “they have a different level of violence”.

The Mayor of Lisbon was not indifferent to the headline in the Diário de Notícias newspaper this Tuesday, which reported that crime in Lisbon has seen its second-largest drop in 10 years. A conclusion that does not reassure Mayor Carlos Moedas.

The crimes that are currently being committed in Lisbon have a different level of violence,” he said in a statement to journalists this afternoon, in which he gave specific examples: “Four rapes in one week,” a “triple homicide,” “armed robberies for a watch, it’s not normal.”

According to the newspaper, which cites provisional data from the Public Security Police (PSP), last year around 28 thousand crimes were reported, the third lowest number in the last 10 years and only surpassed by the years of the pandemic – 2020 and 2021. According to PSP figures, in the space of a year, registered crimes fell by more than 12% and crimes classified as violent and serious also fell by 10%.

However, these figures leave the mayor of Lisbon “concerned”: “It is good to know that the average has dropped, but when we look at the news and see, for example, the case of the parish of Santa Maria Maior in 2023, which presents the highest value of the decade. In other words, if they have dropped between 2023/2024, we cannot rest easy”.

“We have to see what is happening in the city. Last week there were four alleged rapes, this year we had a triple homicide at close range near Santa Apolónia. The crimes and the way they are committed, often in Lisbon with armed robberies to steal a watch, do you know how many are reported to me?”

“Lisbon is a safe city, but this news doesn’t mean we don’t have to say we need more police.

Cyberattacks: number of cases increased by 42% in 2023, most of the complaints are from private entities

This Tuesday marks International Data Protection Day. The University of Porto warns that there are increasing cyber threats to companies and reinforces the need to invest in security and protect information.

The company Águas do Porto suffered its first cyberattack in 2023. The danger alert was identified by the team at this operations management centre.

The next step was to use platforms like this one that identify daily threats and, after a house has been robbed, lock the door. This year, the municipal company entered into a partnership with the Cybersecurity and Privacy Centre of the University of Porto.

At the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Rolando Martins leads a team that works on identifying security weaknesses and gives consultancy sessions.

Systems are often used to deliberately attack customers in order to later see if they are well protected. The number of cyberattacks has increased and is expected to continue to grow.

In 2023 there was an increase in data breaches, a growth of 42% compared to 2022, the majority of complaints came from private entities.

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 29th January 2025

Government of the Azores against the application of any tourist tax in the region

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure of the Government, Berta Cabral, said she disagreed with the application of “any tourist tax” in the region, despite five of the six municipalities of São Miguel applying municipal taxes since January 1st.

“I am against any tourist tax. We are a new tourist destination, which is consolidating, and we can never be too careful when we want to introduce factors that disrupt our demand, and the tourist tax is, in fact, a disruption, whether we like it or not”, said the minister, when interviewed by the Economy Committee of the Azorean parliament, which met in Ponta Delgada.

Berta Cabral was referring to a proposal by the PAN’s sole deputy, Pedro Neves, who intends to create a regional tourist tax, worth three euros per day, for each tourist who visits any of the nine islands in the archipelago, although a municipal tourist tax has already been in force since the beginning of this year in most municipalities on the largest island in the Azores.

“We could end up with a doubling of fees and this doubling could reach 12 euros per person”, warned the head of the Regional Government’s Tourism portfolio, adding that this situation “is not justified”, nor is it “reasonable”, and could even drive some tourists away from the region.

Around 50 vehicles vandalized overnight in Água de Pau

Around 50 vehicles were vandalized, with their tires punctured, during the early hours of Sunday in several streets and parking lots in the town of Água de Pau, with several people already filing a complaint with the Public Security Police (PSP)

The president of the Água de Pau Parish Council, Vanessa Silva, explained that the night was “troubled”, with several cars being “vandalized”, in what she considered a “regrettable” situation.

Vanessa Silva also stated that the Police have already been to Água de Pau and people are already formalizing complaints.

The mayor of Lagoa, Frederico Sousa, explained that there is only evidence of damage to vehicles, and that the reasons for the acts of vandalism that took place in Água de Pau are unknown. Although he stated that the investigation must be completed, the mayor of Lagoa admitted that everything indicates that it was an isolated act.

According to RTP-Açores, after collecting testimonies from the population, the PSP has already identified the suspect responsible for this crime, who can only be held responsible for the damages caused following formal complaints.

Air Force to transport essential goods to Flores

The Portuguese Air Force will transport essential goods to the island of Flores tomorrow, Friday, due to the bad weather that continues to affect supplies by sea, announced the Government of the Azores

The Government of the Azores has taken several steps to ensure alternative solutions for supplying the island of Flores, including activating the resources of the Portuguese Air Force to transport essential goods by air, which will be carried out if the conditions for the operation are met.

Strong sea agitation has been affecting regular supplies to the islands of Flores and Corvo.

Navy coordinates rescue off the coast of the Azores

The Navy, through the Ponta Delgada Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Delgada) coordinated, since 6:47 am on Sunday, the rescue of two crew members of the rowing vessel “ZOLEO”, flying the Hungarian flag.

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 22nd January 2025

Banana from the Azores in the process of being classified as a Protected Geographical Indication

The Açoreana Agricultural Cooperative of Horticultural Producers said it is working on the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) classification of Azorean bananas to promote sustainable growth in the sector and “guarantee product quality.”

The president of Frutaçor, Carlos Araújo, said that the cooperative intends “to register the banana from the Azores as IGP with the aim of promoting the sustainable growth of the crop and guaranteeing the quality of the product, creating a strategy to win over and retain customers who identify it as an IGP banana, giving it notoriety”.

Bad weather causes 13 incidents in the early hours of the morning in the Azores

Bad weather in the Azores caused 13 incidents on the islands of São Miguel, Faial, Terceira and Pico in the early hours of Monday morning, mainly related to falling trees.

According to the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA), eight incidents were recorded on the island of São Miguel, in the municipalities of Ponta Delgada, Povoação and Ribeira Grande.

Three situations occurred on Pico Island, one on Faial Island and another on Terceira Island.

“The incidents are mainly related to falling trees. There are also reports of damage to electricity poles and the roof of a building [bakery],” according to the SRPCBA.

The nine islands of the Azores are under orange and yellow warnings, because of depression Garoe which, according to a statement from the Azores Meteorological Forecast and Surveillance Center of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), is expected to continue until Tuesday.

Fire destroys hotel unit in the city of Lagoa

A fire destroyed almost the entire Sul Villas hotel unit, located in the city of Lagoa, in the parish of Santa Cruz, this Wednesday night.

According to João Moniz, operational, from the Ponta Delgada Volunteer Firefighters, the fire, due to the materials that make up the hotel infrastructure, quickly spread throughout the hotel, also helped by the force of the wind that at the beginning of the night fed the fire for a few hours.

The causes of the fire, which broke out at around 5:00 pm, are currently unknown and more than two dozen members of the volunteer fire brigades of Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande and Vila Franca do Campo were involved in fighting the fire, supported by six fire trucks and two ambulances.

The fire was considered under control at 9:04 pm, and since then work has been underway to extinguish the fire, which forced a firefighter to be evacuated to CUF, in Lagoa, due to physical discomfort resulting from smoke inhalation.

The resident of one of the houses was also treated at the scene due to smoke inhalation.

As a precaution, as stated by the president of the Lagoa City Council, Frederico Sousa, two houses close to the hotel unit were evacuated and their residents were rehoused, during the night, in the homes of relatives.

The mayor of Lagoa also added that the operations on the ground also had the collaboration of PSP agents from the Lagoa police station.

All immigrants now have access to social mobility subsidy in the Azores

All immigrants who have resided in the Azores for more than six months will now have access to the social mobility subsidy, according to an amendment to the law approved unanimously this Friday in the national parliament.

The subsidy in question is intended for air transport between the Azores and the mainland and Madeira, for which beneficiaries pay a reduced price.

The proposal under debate and vote – unanimously approved by the Legislative Assembly of the Azores on December 13th, with reference to entry into force together with the State Budget law for 2025, already published in the Official Gazette – extends access to the social mobility subsidy to all immigrants residing in the Azores for more than six months.

The Regional Government had previously advocated a “clarification” of the law that regulates the social mobility subsidy, to ensure that “all residents” in the archipelago were entitled to support, regardless of nationality.

Until now, by law, the social mobility subsidy only covered Portuguese citizens, citizens of the European Union (EU), States that are part of the Schengen Agreement (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) and States with which the EU and Portugal have cooperation and friendship agreements (such as Brazil), leaving out a total number estimated at 2,500 people – which, according to the calculations of MP Inês Sousa Real (PAN), meant that more than 60% of immigrants were left out.

In the debate on the proposal held in the Assembly of the Republic, the PS recalled that the exclusion has never been implemented since the social mobility subsidy was created in 2015.

However, with the current Government (PSD/CDS-PP) in office, several immigrants living in the autonomous regions have been excluded in recent months, according to news reports in Diário de Notícias and on RTP’s regional channels in the Azores and Madeira.

The exclusion arises from the fact that CTT – where the refund of the difference between the amount initially paid for the trip and the amount defined for residents is collected – considers that the subsidy in question only covers national citizens, from the European Union or from countries with free movement treaties with Portugal (as is the case of Brazil).

The PSD justified the change with the need to make it clear, in the law, that the subsidy applies to all immigrants who have resided in the region for more than six months.

This is because, in the meantime, a “restricted and rigorous interpretation” of the law has begun to be made, as recalled by deputy Isabel Mendes Lopes (Livre), defending that “no one in the Azores is deprived of the social mobility subsidy”.

“The law was poorly drafted. Fortunately, over the course of nine years, it was never applied, as it is completely unfair,” agreed MP Fabian Figueiredo (BE).

“These 2,500 immigrants living in the Azores are perfectly integrated and in line with the law, it is only fair that they naturally access this mobility subsidy”, highlighted MP Paulo Moniz (PSD), lamenting the “injustice”, which has resulted in “unacceptable, perhaps unconstitutional, discrimination”.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 22nd January 2025

Good morning.  We start the day with the tragic news that a couple and their two young children died in the house where they lived, in Vilar Formoso, in the municipality of Almeida, allegedly due to carbon monoxide inhalation. Although the cause of death has not been confirmed – we remind people once again on the care that needs to be taken when using heating equipment which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Remember that many domestic accidents are due to the effect of carbon monoxide, a toxic gas, which is odourless and colourless. Most of such accident are at night time.

Remember before you go to bed or leave the house, check if you have turned off the heating equipment and ensure the room ventilated. Ensure that your heater is in good working order and for wood burning fires and heaters ensure the seals are checked periodically. If someone has symptoms of poisoning, contact the Poison Information Centre: 800 250 250 in an emergency – In serious cases contact 112.

We welcome the news that Albufeira (at long last) has a video monitoring system, which is operated by GNR and went into operation on December 30th, in time for the busy New Year’s Eve.  Installed in Baixa de Albufeira, on Avenida Sá Carneiro, and also in the Descobrimentos, Inatel, Três Palmeiras and Globo roundabouts, this ensures coverage of areas of the city with higher concentration of people, namely in the bar streets of Albufeira and Oura, as well as the main entrances.

Over the last few days we have experienced some heavy rain in the Azores, Madeira and the mainland resulting from Depression Garoe. The main areas affected were (as forecast) the Algarve and parts of the centre of the mainland. Orange level rain warnings were issued by the IPMA for the Algarve and Beja and SMS text messages were sent to residents and visitors to seven districts. The sending of SMS text messages is usually when the warnings are at red (maximum) level, but by issuing them earlier, this gives more advanced warning should it be decided to increase the warnings from orange to red.

 In addition the ANEPC issued a bulleting with the likely effects from the storm and preventive measure to be taken. Our association shared this advice to those who follow our Facebook Groups and main page. We remind everyone to study and follow this advice which is for everyone’s safety.

This is certainly not the last of the storms/depressions with the news that the latest storm has been named Éowyn by Met Office. It is forecast to bring strong winds to much of the UK on Friday and into Saturday. For Mainland Portugal, an associated front of strong activity is expected on Friday night and Saturday morning, affecting especially the north and central coast. We’ll update as more accurate forecasts will be published.

In Madeira in response to forecasts of worsening sea conditions, that pose the greatest risk on the coast of the Municipality of Santa Cruz, the situation was monitored by the municipality’s Firefighters in conjunction with SANAS (Madeiran Association for Safety at Sea). The measure, which has been implemented for some time, whenever adverse weather conditions occur, seeks to prevent risky behaviour on the part of people who choose to approach the coastline to view the waves, often putting their own lives at risk to take photographs (selfies). Of course this should not be necessary but unfortunately those who do not follow the advice, putting not only their lives at risk, but also those of rescuers.

Our team at Safe Communities wish you all a nice week ahead

News

More than 950 violations involving mobile phone use while driving detected in national campaign

Authorities recorded more than 950 mobile phone offences while driving in the road safety campaign “When driving, your mobile phone can wait”, which ended on Monday, it was announced today.

In a statement, the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) explains that this campaign, coordinated with the National Republican Guard (GNR) and the Public Security Police (PSP), took place between the 14th and 20th of January and aimed to alert drivers to the consequences of improper use of mobile phones while driving.

Authorities inspected more than 70,000 vehicles in person.

As part of the 2025 National Inspection Plan (PNF), the campaign involved the participation of the regional administration services of the Azores and Madeira and included awareness-raising actions by the ANSR, simultaneously with inspection operations by the GNR and PSP, in Batalha, Braga (two), Leiria and Seixal.

In total, security forces recorded 2,560 accidents, with nine fatalities, 34 serious injuries and 715 minor injuries.

Compared to the same period last year, there were 198 fewer accidents, three more fatalities, nine fewer serious injuries and 23 fewer minor injuries

In total, between in person and by radar, a total of 4.9 million vehicles were inspected during the campaign and 28 thousand infractions were detected.

During the campaign, 446 drivers and passengers were made aware and received messages about the consequences of using a mobile phone while driving, particularly the fact that drivers who use a mobile phone while driving are slower to recognise and react to dangers.

The authorities also warned drivers that using electronic devices while driving can make it difficult to interpret signs and lead to a lack of respect for the rules on giving way, particularly in relation to pedestrians.

Well-protected homes can be safe places against forest fires

Well-protected and maintained homes, with interventions at the building level and on adjacent land, can be safe places for the population in the face of forest fires, concluded a project led by researchers from the University of Coimbra (UC).

Speaking to Lusa, Miguel Almeida, lead researcher on the House Refuge project, said that traditional homes, when well designed and maintained, can serve as safe places in the event of a fire, as long as they are surrounded by adequate fuel management areas.

The researcher at the Forest Fire Studies Centre at ADAI (Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics), created more than 30 years ago in the Mechanical Engineering department at UC, noted, in this context, that one of the components of the project involved studying the management of fuels in the surroundings of buildings.

“What the legislation requires is that there be [around homes] a fuel management strip. It is not a strip without fuel or a strip with fuel cuts”, noted Miguel Almeida.

The researcher explained that these areas must therefore have plant species – complying with the rules that provide for a distance of five metres between each treetop, which doubles to ten metres in the case of pine or eucalyptus trees – so that the houses are not in open fields facing a surrounding forest area, which, if it were to happen, would be harmful, as it would increase the risk of them being hit by fires, due to the projection of sparks.

He recalled, in this regard, that, in the 2017 fires, a study carried out by ADAI found that around 61% of the homes affected were not affected because the flames had reached these homes, but rather by the projections of incandescent particles, which ended up destroying buildings that were unprepared to withstand fires, often entering through the roofs.