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The Algarve Report Thursday 31st October 2024

 

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all. As with last week’s introduction, the subject of Water is still very much in the minds of the people and legislatures of the Algarve. Despite the first real signs of rainfall the news from the area is not looking better. According to a report by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), only five of the 16 municipalities in the Algarve reduced water consumption in September, municipalities that still fell short of the 10% reduction target. According to data from the most recent Water Observatory in the Algarve, dated September 30, that month there was “a decrease in the performance of the 16 municipalities” in the region, in terms of compliance with the 10% reduction in urban consumption defined in June by the Government.

The five Algarve municipalities that reduced water consumption in September, compared to the same period in 2023, were Lagoa, Tavira, Vila Real de Santo António, Alcoutim and Castro Marim, having, however, fallen “short of the 10% reduction target”, “With regard to accumulated urban consumption between January and September [2024], there was a reduction in the region of 8.0%, which translates into savings of around 4.7 million cubic metres, compared to the reference period [January to September 2023]”,

In the Algarve region, since May 2022, water storage levels in reservoirs have been below 50%, with the lack of replenishment during wet periods generating a continuous deficit in the use of available surface and groundwater.

The current situation of water reserves in the Algarve region, particularly in 2022 and 2023, in which values ​​were recorded below the 20th percentile, determines that current water uses “cannot be adequately satisfied with existing reserves in surface and groundwater”, states the APA. “The rainfall that occurred during the months of March and April allowed an increase in the volumes stored in the reference reservoirs in the Algarve region, allowing, between January 1st and April 30th, an increase in the stored volume by a further 84 cubic hectometres (hm3)”, he adds. According to the APA, this situation “makes it possible, albeit cautiously, to reduce the level of reduction in volumes allocated for different uses and ecological flows without, however, neglecting that at the end of December 2024 the useful volume stored in the reservoirs guarantees one year of public supply”.

Twelve districts on the mainland will be under a yellow warning this Wednesday and Thursday due to the forecast of showers, which could sometimes be heavy and accompanied by thunderstorms, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

We can but hope that the expected rainfall in the next couple of weeks helps ease the situation.

Now a look at some of the other stories around the region this week.

GNR Arrest Man in Portimão for Drug Dealing

The National Republican Guard (GNR) arrested a 37-year-old man this Friday for drug trafficking, in the parish of Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo, in the municipality of Tavira. The arrest took place as part of a road inspection operation. The man was found to be carrying money and several types of drugs.

“The arrest took place as part of a road inspection operation, during which the Guard’s military personnel, upon approaching the driver, identified a quantity of a narcotic product in his possession”, explains the GNR in a statement.

During the operation, the military confirmed that they were dealing with 36 individual doses of cocaine, which resulted in their immediate arrest and a search of the vehicle, where 339.90 euros in cash, a mobile phone and a light vehicle were seized.

During the investigation, a search was carried out at the detainee’s residence, where more narcotics and other objects of criminal relevance were found, culminating in the seizure of 208 doses of cocaine, 120 doses of hashish, two doses of marijuana, five rounds of ammunition, a mobile phone, 160 euros in cash and packaging bags and cutting material for individualising the doses.

The detainee was brought before the Loulé Judicial Court, and was subject to the coercive measures of weekly periodic presentations and a ban on contact with individuals associated with drug use.

Albufeira Rally to be held this weekend

The Albufeira Municipal Rally is back on the road, on the 2nd and 3rd of November, for what will be the seventh edition. This will mean some road closures so make sure you are aware if they are close to you.

The event, which is an initiative of the Clube Automóvel do Sul with support from the Municipality, under the auspices of the Portuguese Automobile and Karting Federation, counts towards the Start Sul Rally Championship and the 2RM Start Sul Rally Championship.

The competition kicks off on Saturday the 2nd, with the night-time Super Special. Avenida dos Descobrimentos was once again the chosen stage for the tests and demonstrations of tricks, drifts and acrobatics, which begin at 9pm, between the Albufeira Fire Station intersection and the Relógios roundabout, covering a distance of over 2 kilometres.

On Sunday, the 3rd, the 35 registered drivers will compete in three stages. In the parish of Ferreiras, the Rally will take place at 10:04, 12:05 and 14:06; in Paderne at 10:27, 12:28 and 14:29 and in Guia at 10:55, 12:56 and 14:57.

In a note, Albufeira City Council highlights that, due to the event, some of the roads will be restricted during the competition hours, however traffic will flow in accordance with the instructions of the National Republican Guard.

The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday at 4:00 pm on the podium installed in the car park next to the Court.

José Carlos Rolo, Mayor of Albufeira, revealed that “the growing interest and participation of the public consolidates the event as one of the most important events in the south of the country, making it a reference in the region’s automobile scene, with an increasingly important role for the municipality”.

Public Awareness Exercise for Seismic Risk – A TERRA TREME on 5 November

The 12th edition of the Public Awareness Exercise for Seismic Risk – A TERRA TREME, organised by the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), will take place on November 5th, at 11:05 am.

The initiative consists of a national exercise promoted annually by ANEPC, in collaboration with several public and private entities, and which aims to “enable the population to know how to act in the event of an earthquake”. “Knowing what to do before, during and after an earthquake, namely knowing the preventive measures and self-protection behaviours to adopt, is the purpose of this journey that we propose to all citizens”, says ANEPC in a statement. The exercise involves performing three simple gestures that can make a difference to those who practise them in the event of an earthquake. The exercise lasts one minute, during which participants, individually or collectively (families, schools, companies, public, private or association institutions), will have to perform the three self-protection gestures: Get Down, Protect and Wait.

“The initiative has had significant support from the school population, thanks also to the involvement of the Directorate-General for Education (DGE) and the Directorate-General for School Establishments (DGEsTE)”, he stresses. In conjunction with these partners, ANEPC, with the support of the municipality of Silves, is promoting a main event of the exercise at the Dr. Garcia Domingues Basic School, in Silves , at Praceta, Largo Gil Eanes 1, 8300-118 Silves.

At the end of this action, a LIVEX Exercise will take place, with the movement of real resources on the ground, for sectoral testing of the Special Civil Protection Emergency Plan for Seismic Risk and Tsunamis in the Algarve, in the Search, Help and Rescue Intervention area, with seven different scenarios, in the municipalities of Portimão and Silves.

In Praia da Rocha, in partnership with the Municipal Civil Protection Service of Portimão, the pilot project sirens of the population warning system, installed in that bathing area, will be activated, with subsequent “evacuation of people and animals from the identified risk areas, through the marked routes to the meeting points, carrying out the emergency procedures that follow a tsunami alert”. Over the course of successive editions, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority has sought to “broaden reflection and debate around the issue of seismic risk and knowledge about what to do before, during and after an earthquake to all sectors of civil society”, particularly within the scope of “the inclusion of people with disabilities, in order to achieve greater resilience, both individual and collective, among the population”.

Throughout the country, the Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Commands (CREPC) and the Sub-regional Emergency and Civil Protection Commands of ANEPC will promote, in partnership with local educational communities, Fire Departments, Municipal Civil Protection Services and other civil protection agents, awareness-raising actions on the subject of seismic risk and self-protection measures to face it, as well as carrying out the exercise A TERRA TREME.

Citizens and entities can participate by registering here .https://www.aterratreme.pt/

This edition of A TERRA TREME coincides with World Tsunami Awareness Day, highlighting “the importance of an informed and resilient society in the face of natural disasters”.

MAN TRIES TO ESCAPE WITH A FIREARM AFTER HIS CAR COLLIDES WITH A POLICE CAR

The PSP arrested two men on Friday last night, for driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal possession of a firearm, qualified damage and resistance and coercion against an employee, in Olhão.

During a patrol at 03:20 am, “the driver of a vehicle, upon noticing the presence of the patrol car, fled”, says the PSP. Given the suspicious behaviour, the vehicle was “followed and subsequently stopped”, with the support of another patrol car.

When the suspect’s vehicle stopped, “the passenger, who was brandishing a rifle, immediately fled on foot and was caught a short distance away”, the police explained. When ordered to drop the weapon, the man “did not initially comply, so the police officer fired a warning shot into the air”. The suspect immediately “threw the weapon to the ground, and it was possible to handcuff him and subsequently arrest him”.

At the same time, after the passenger had exited, with his path blocked by the police vehicle, with its lights and sirens on, the driver of the suspects’ vehicle began to drive towards the police vehicle, violently colliding with it, causing damage”.

Despite the damage caused and the attempted escape, the police stressed that it was “possible to intercept the driver and arrest him”. The immediate police investigation resulted in the seizure of €2500 euros, the “origin of which they were unable to prove”, as well as a knife. After the driver was subjected to a breathalyser test, he was found to have a blood alcohol level of 1.61 g/l.

ALGARVE RAILWAY LINE CLOSED AFTER FATAL ACCIDENT IN OLHÃO

The Algarve railway line was closed earlier this morning, after a railway accident at around 07:45 am in Marim (Olhão), causing one fatality.

A source from the Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command said that the victim was crossing the railway line on foot when he was hit by the train, in the Marim area, in Olhão.

By 8:30 am, 18 members of the fire department, INEM, GNR and Infraestruturas de Portugal were on site, supported by seven vehicles.

The line runs across the Algarve, connecting the railway stations of Vila Real de Santo António and Lagos.

That’s all for this edition. Until the next time stay safe.

 

 

 

 

The Algarve Report Wednesday 23rd October 2024

 

by Mike Evans

 

A very good afternoon to you all. As someone who spent the whole of his working life in the travel and tourism industry, and along with many others made the decision to relocate to the Algarve after experiencing the area on a holiday or two it comes as no surprise that the sustainability of the industry for the region is at the top of the agenda so that the benefits of this area can continue to provide many people with a livelihood but by maintaining the beauty of the place.

This week the, president of Turismo de Portugal, Carlos Abade, who was participating in the seminar “The Impact of Tourism on Trade and Development of Cities”, in Vila Real de Santo António cited the idea that Human resources, sustainability and technology are key aspects to be incorporated into the Tourism Strategy 2035 so that the sector can grow and create wealth for the economy,Carlos Abade participated in the seminar “The Impact of Tourism on Commerce and Development of Cities”, promoted by the Algarve Region Commerce and Services Association ( ACRAL ), in Vila Real de Santo António , and highlighted the importance that these three items will have for the future of a tourism sector that, in 2023, represented 20% of national exports and generated revenues of around 25,000 million euros. “And this is the result of work that has been done by many, mainly by companies”, according to Abade, considering that the value that has been generated “for the tourism sector, but above all for Portugal and for other sectors of activity as well” is “quite significant”.

Carlos Abade highlighted that, at this moment, the reality “is different” from that which existed in 2017, when Strategy 2027 was prepared, and tourism is currently facing “dimensions that are clearly more challenging” for its future development. “We have the issue of human resources, on the one hand the issue of attracting talent and on the other hand the issue of training, qualification and valuing tourism professionals”, he pointed out, stressing that this is “an important tool in improving people’s quality of life and promoting their well-being”.Carlos Abade stressed that the wealth generated by tourism activity “does not only benefit the tourism sector and “benefits practically all economic activities”, because it involves a set of other activities that also benefit from tourism. For all of us who live amongst this beautiful region we hope that the need to be sustainable does not get lost in the future chasing more and more people.

This brings me onto one of the issues we are all facing,the lack of water! The contract for the design, construction and operation of the future desalination plant in the Algarve, which should be built by the end of 2026, was signed this Tuesday, the 22nd, in Albufeira in the presence of the Prime Minister. The contract award, which represents an investment of around 108 million euros, is part of the Algarve Regional Water Efficiency Plan, framed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).

The project to build a desalination plant in the municipality of Albufeira is one of the measures in response to the drought affecting the southernmost region of mainland Portugal, as part of a package of measures launched by the previous Government. The infrastructure will have an initial capacity of 16 million cubic metres (m3), but the company is designing it to have the capacity to treat up to three times more than that volume, that is, up to 24 million m3 of water.

 

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

 

Albufeira Institutions Promote Water Preservation Among Students

More than a dozen institutions in Albufeira will join forces to promote sustainability and water preservation, through a series of educational, cultural, sporting and citizenship activities , aimed at 425 1st cycle students in the Parish of Ferreiras , tomorrow, between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

The event of the educational project “O Arco Íris” will feature a diverse program, where children will be the protagonists. Throughout the afternoon, artistic pieces will be created live by students of the Art Club of the Agrupamento de Escolas de Ferreiras, with surprise moments that will reinforce the community spirit.

“Several collective sports, such as volleyball, football and basketball, will reinforce the value of teamwork”, highlights the Albufeira Activa Association, in a press release.

The presence of the Albufeira Volunteer Firefighters’ marching band will provide a special moment, allowing children to have a unique interaction with the Fire Department.

“The initiative will be a celebration of education, culture, sport, citizenship and sustainability, providing children with an inspiring afternoon full of learning”, reinforces the organisation.

In this way, “’O Arco da Íris’ is a commitment to the education of our children and the future of our community. We believe that, by involving schools, associations and families, we are building a more conscious and supportive Albufeira”, says Ricardo Xufre, president of the Albufeira Activa Association.

 

Search for Missing Fisherman Called off in Aljezur

The search for the fisherman who has been missing since Saturday, the 19th, in Aljezur, was interrupted at sunset without results, the National Maritime Authority ( AMN ) reported today.

The 25-year-old man allegedly fell into the sea while recreational fishing on Saturday afternoon at Bordeira beach in Aljezur. After a day and a half of searching by sea, land and air, the work “was interrupted late this afternoon without the victim being found”, AMN reported in a statement.

The work throughout the day, coordinated by the captain of the Port of Lagos , was carried out with a device made up of crew members from the Sagres lifeguard station, by sea, while on land, elements from the port captaincy and the local command of the Lagos Maritime Police, the “SeaWatch” project and the Aljezur Volunteer Firefighters, supported by a drone, travelled along the coast, indicated AMN.

“A Portuguese Air Force aircraft was also taking part in the search,” he added. Work will resume on Monday morning, the National Maritime Authority said, highlighting that the Maritime Police’s psychology office has been providing support to the missing man’s family.

The search had been restarted this Sunday at 7:30 am, by sea, land and air, with an air force vehicle, with the perimeter having been “adjusted, given the period of time that has elapsed” since the alert was given about the fisherman falling into the sea, on Saturday, at 2:40 pm.

“Friends of the victim who are at the scene will be included in the search on land,” the port captain said at the same time. The alert was received on Saturday, through the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Lisboa).

 

Algarve Algae Removal to be Completed Next Week in Portimao

The mayor of Portimão has estimated that the work to remove the “several tons of algae” that has accumulated on Praia da Rocha for two weeks could be completed by the beginning of next week. “It is a time-consuming job that started on Monday and is being done with heavy machinery. Given the large amount of algae, we expect the removal to last for a week”, Álvaro Bila told Lusa agency.

The high concentration of algae on the beaches of Rocha and Vau, in the municipality of Portimão, in the district of Faro, has been occurring for two weeks, a phenomenon that “began to have greater visibility” last week with the spring tides, said the mayor.

“Although the accumulated quantity of these organisms is very significant, there was no need to close the bathing areas, unlike what happened last month, with the closure, for two days, of Barranco das Canas beach”, he stressed.

In total, said the mayor, “120 trucks loaded with algae were removed from Alemão beach, which represents several tons of the marine organisms.”

Since 2021, large concentrations of brown and red algae have been recurrent on beaches in the western (western) Algarve. The accumulation of these invasive species has led municipal and regional entities to classify this as “an already normal situation”, according to the mayor of that municipality in the district of Faro.

“Given the recurrence of the phenomenon, since 2021 we have launched an annual procedure worth €50,000 to clean the beaches, as the municipality does not have heavy machinery for this type of service”, explained Álvaro Bila. According to the mayor, the cleaning of the beaches only began on Monday “because there was an expectation that the sea would take back the algae”.

“As this did not happen, we had to move on to cleaning with heavy machinery, carried out by a private company”, noted the mayor, stressing that, so far, no contamination of the water caused by algae has been detected.

The phenomenon is monitored by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), which analyses the quality of bathing waters daily.

 

25-year-old Arrested by GNR in Albufeira for Robbery

The National Republican Guard (GNR) arrested a 25-year-old man this Saturday for the crime of robbery, in the municipality of Albufeira. After a complaint, the GNR managed to locate and detain the individual, having recovered the stolen items.

Following a report of robbery involving violence in a nightlife area of ​​the city of Albufeira, “the Guard’s military personnel immediately carried out investigations that allowed the individual to be located and detained”, explains the GNR in a statement.

During the police investigations, it was possible to verify that the suspect was still in possession of stolen material and narcotics, with the National Republican Guard having seized a mobile phone, 15 doses of hashish and 30 euros in cash.

The detainee was brought before the Portimão Judicial Court for the application of coercive measures.

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 16th October 2024

by Mike Evans

A very good afternoon to you all as I write this report while the rain comes pouring down. The fire season has officially finished and the rains have arrived on schedule. For many of us this has been a long summer trying to keep our water consumption down, a mission which we seem to have succeeded in as the taps are still running! Let’s hope that these next few weeks of rain forecasted will help swell the reservoirs that serve us here in the Algarve.

The month of October is designated by the WHO as Suicide Prevention Month and there are very few families where this particular tragedy has not had an impact in one way or another. It is good to see that Sao Bras de Alportel  has joined the “Grab Life” campaign, in force during Suicide Prevention Month , with the aim of raising awareness among the population about this issue and calling for an active role, both at an individual level and at the level of the different community structures in the prevention of suicide and mental illness.

The “Grab Life” campaign is promoted worldwide by the World Health Organization and the International Association for Suicide Prevention and has the support, at national level, of the National Coordination of Mental Health Policies, the Portuguese Society of Suicidology and, in the Algarve, of the Regional Coordination of Mental Health, the Algarve Local Health Unit and its Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, the Algarve Health Center Groups, and various local authorities and institutions.

This awareness-raising campaign will continue throughout the month of October, when World Mental Health Day is celebrated. A discussion entitled “Here Among Us” will take place on October 18th, at 9:30 pm, at the Municipal Gallery of São Brás de Alportel, with the theme “No, everything is not okay!”.

This meeting proposes a reflection on today’s silent epidemics, such as anxiety, depression, burnout and suicide, which affect people of all ages and sectors of society. The initiative promoted by the municipality features first-hand testimonies from those who have experienced difficult times. It also has the collaboration of the Gonçalo Assunção “Prometo Viver” Association, which held its third gala on October 9th at Teatro das Figuras, where it was possible to raise funds to open a new SOS Voz Amiga helpline, which will support people from all over the country from the Algarve, and to create, in partnership with the Algarve Mental Health Association (ASMAL), several community service centres with regular and free consultations with psychology professionals.

This project will facilitate the early detection of mental illnesses and will allow for more effective preventive interventions. This initiative has the support of the municipalities of Faro and São Brás de Alportel. A great initiative which we should all support if possible.

Now a brief look at some of the other news from the region over the past couple of weeks.

Two Algarve Beaches affected by Crude Oil spillage

Two Algarve beaches (adjacent to  each other in the municipality of Vila do Bispo) have been affected by a crude oil spill, blighting water quality.Authorities have already ‘banned’ bathing until conditions “are reversed”.The crude was first detected yesterday at Cabanas Velhas, with AMN national maritime authority admitting its origins at this point are unknown. For now, the situation is in the hands of the Southern Maritime Department and the Directorate for Combating Pollution at Sea, which has activated what is called the 3rd level of readiness of the Clean Sea Plan.

Polluting material was being rounded up this morning at which point authorities patrolling the coast realised it was also present at Boca do Rio. “All contaminated material collected” has been sent to “an appropriate treatment unit via Vila do Bispo town hall”, said a statement this morning from the national maritime authority, explaining that the “general aim of the Mar Limpo Plan is to establish a response mechanism for hydrocarbon and other dangerous substance spills, and for situations where there is an imminent threat of such spills, to define responsibilities of the organisations involved and to establish their competences”.

With no culprit yet identified, it is unclear how, or even if, authorities will be investigating further.

Woman found dead in Castro Marin Brothel

The PJ police consider there are no signs of crime in the death of a 53-year-old Brazilian woman in a brothel in Vale de Andreu, Castro Marim, on Saturday. The body was found following a fire in one of the bedrooms. According to tabloid Correio da Manhã, “firefighters found the door to the room shut and when they entered they discovered the victim on the floor”. The body has been sent for autopsy to try and discover the cause of death.

Three Arrested for Theft in Portimao

The Criminal Investigation Unit (NIC) of the GNR of Portimão have arrested three men who are suspected of stealing non-precious metals, construction materials and scooters, in Alvor.

Following a complaint about crimes of theft, the police carried out “several investigations that allowed the identification of the three men, perpetrators of the thefts, as well as recovering dozens of stolen pieces of non-precious metals, namely copper and tin plumbing material, and also four electric scooters”.

The detainees, aged between 26 and 29, were brought before the Portimão Judicial Court, where they were subject to coercive measures.

Man Arrested for Robbery in Quarteira

The Criminal Investigation Unit (NIC) of the Loulé GNR have arrested a 35 year old man, for committing several crimes of theft and robbery, in the parish of Quarteira.

Following the various crimes of theft and robbery in the area, police carried out several investigations that “allowed the suspect to be located in the municipality of Ferreira do Alentejo, in the district of Beja”.

“An arrest warrant was served for the crimes of robbery, vehicle theft, theft from inside a vehicle, theft from a garage and card abuse, which culminated in the arrest of the suspect.”

Body Found On Spanish Coast thought to be Missing Portuguese Lady

The body of what is thought to be 44 year old Carla Leal, who disappeared last week in Vila Real de Santo António after her car was found in the Guadiana river, has been found on the Spanish coast, in Huelva.

A family source confirmed to journalists that the body had been found, although official procedures between the authorities of the two countries are still pending, to confirm the identity of the victim.

The alert for the disappearance was given by the family, after the woman left her workplace, a restaurant on Santo António beach, in Vila Real de Santo António, on the night of September 30 and did not return home. On October 2, the woman’s car was found in the Guadiana River and removed by authorities, for analysis by teams from the GNR Accident Investigation Unit.

Authorities carried out searches in the Guadiana, in Portugal and Spain, and along the bordering coasts in both countries, for several days to try to locate the woman, but without results.

The captain of the port of Vila Real de Santo António, João Afonso Martins, who coordinated the searches in the river and on the coast, said he had not received official communication to confirm whether the body found was or was not that of the missing woman.

Prison Break Drug Lord Arrested in Morocco

Algarve drug lord Fábio Loureiro, one of the prisoners who escaped from the Vale de Judeus Prison on Sept 7th, was arrested on Sunday night in Tangier, Morocco. At around 10:00 pm local time, the Moroccan authorities, with the collaboration of the Spanish authorities, in close coordination with the Judicial Police (PJ)” arrested the suspect, who had been on the run since September 7th.

“The international police operation was launched in less than 24 hours, with the strong support of the Spanish Cuerpo Nacional de Policía (CNP) and the Moroccan General Directorate of National Territorial Surveillance (DGST), based on credible information from the PJ, that Fábio Loureiro was in Morocco.

Fábio Loureiro had an international arrest warrant out on him and was on Interpol’s most wanted list, the PJ said in a statement. He has been convicted of the crimes of kidnapping, drug trafficking, criminal association, armed robbery and evasion and will now be “presented to the Moroccan judicial authorities with a view to his extradition to Portugal for the purposes of serving his sentence”, adds the PJ.

According to the audit report on the performance of the surveillance and security services, which was prepared by the Security Services Division of the Directorate-General for Reintegration and Prison Services, the escape of the inmates “took six minutes” and was only detected about an hour later.

The group of escapees included two Portuguese citizens, Fernando Ribeiro Ferreira and Fábio Fernandes Santos Loureiro, a citizen of Georgia, Shergili Farjiani, one from Argentina, Rodolf José Lohrmann, and one from the United Kingdom, Mark Cameron Roscaleer, aged between 33 and 61.

They were sentenced to between seven and 25 years in prison for various crimes, including drug trafficking, criminal association, robbery, kidnapping and money laundering. Of these, only Fábio Loureiro has so far been caught by the authorities.

The escape of these criminals on Sept 7th led to the removal of the prison director and the resignation of the then general director of Reintegration and Prison Services, Rui Abrunhosa e Gonçalves, who was replaced on an interim basis by Isabel Leitão, who was already part of that general directorate supervised by the Ministry of Justice.

The escape from Vale de Judeus led the Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice, who ordered an audit of the security of Portuguese prisons, to be heard recently on the case in the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees, at the request of the Liberal Initiative.

GNR Operation Nets 61 Arrests

The GNR Territorial Command of Faro carried out a series of operations in the district of Faro, in the week of October 7th to 13th, which aimed to prevent and combat violent crime. During the week 61 people were detained, including 20 for driving without a licence; 15 for driving under the influence of alcohol and 3 for drug trafficking.

A total of 127 doses of hashish; Two shotguns; 3 pressure guns; 4 electric bicycles; 3 cell phones; Two digital scales; A machete; Ammunition and Non-precious metal materials, were also seized. During the same period, a total of 102 accidents were recorded, with 24 minor injuries.

Until the next time Stay Safe