Archives: Situation Reports

Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 1^st June 2022

Good morning – Firstly I will start with a reminder and that is concerning our forthcoming seminar: Domestic violence – A Cross Cultural Focus”. The aim of the seminar is to create greater awareness in recognising the signs and handling of domestic violence cases across different cultures. For those who deal with migrants and/or groups where cultures, language and customs maybe very different to that in Portugal, understanding their needs as victims of domestic violence and related abuse is essential.

The venue will be the lovely historic Palácio Gama Lobo, Rua de Nossa Senhora de Fátima, 8100-557, Loulé on Thursday 9th June from 16.00 to 18.00 hrs.

We are privileged to have Dr. Vitor Aleixo, Sr. Presidente da Câmara de Loulé who will give an opening address as well as a range of speakers who have considerable local, national and/or international experience in their respective fields. Please welcome those who can attend.

Regretfully domestic violence represents the highest number of reported crimes in Portugal, so it is important to know how to recognise the signs at an early state and obtain professional help.

Newsletter – You may not be aware that on average every two weeks Safe Communities Portugal publishes a newsletter, which contains key information concerning safety and security issues, including topics such as beach safety, rural fire risks cyber security, and road safety etc. – all those bits of advice, which if followed, helps in contributing to a high quality of life here in Portugal. Like all our services this is free of charge and to be added to the list simply email newsletter@safecommunitiesportugal.com.

Last week the crime figures for Portugal for 2021 were published by Government. There is plenty of good news here showing a continuous decrease in violent and serious crime over the last 10 years.  We are lucky in Portugal in living in one of the safest countries in the world, so it is important we all do our best to keep it that way. You may not be aware that Portugal is currently the 4^th most peaceful country in the world according the Global Peace Index. An analysis of the 2021 crime figures can be read in the Safe Communities feature in this week’s Algarve Resident newspaper due out tomorrow.

We seem to be in a period of rail strikes, with more expected. Comboios de Portugal gave a warning this Monday, to all users, as it foresees disruptions “in all services” between 3rd and 30th June 2022. It stated “We inform you that, due to a strike, possible disruptions are expected in all services, between the 3rd and 30th of June 2022, namely delays and cancellation of trains”, according to a notice published on the company’s official website. We recommend if your journey is essential, for instance travelling for a flight departure, that you check with CP the situation beforehand. This can be done through their website here:

https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/pt

Remember also that there have been partial strikes on the Lisbon and Porto metro systems usually from 0500 to 0900 hrs.

Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 25^th May 2022.

Good morning – The annual Portugal Internal Security Report (RASI) for 2021 was published yesterday. Good news is that that crime, both general and violent and serious, recorded levels below the pre-pandemic period, in 2019.

Overall crime increased by 0.9% in 2021 compared to 2020, while violent and serious crime decreased by 6.9%, according to the Annual Internal Security Report (RASI) approved today. The bad news is that once again domestic violence features highly, with 26,520 complaints, despite having registered a reduction of 4% (-915 cases) compared to 2020. We will be preparing further analysis of the main categories shortly

After a break from face to face seminars of nearly two years due to Covid-19 restrictions, Safe Communities Portugal is pleased to announce the first of a number of planned seminars – this first one dealing with an important subject, that of domestic violence. This is being organised jointly between SCP and Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima (APAV) Algarve on 9^th June at 1600 to 1800 hrs.

The focus and aim of the seminar is to create greater awareness in recognising the signs and handling of domestic violence cases across different cultures. For those who deal with migrants and/or groups where cultures, language and customs maybe very different to that in Portugal, understanding their needs as victims of domestic violence and related abuse is essential. The venue will be the lovely historic Palácio Gama Lobo, Rua de Nossa Senhora de Fátima, 8100-557, Loulé. Please see our post on Facebook.

I hope that everyone is now aware of the new fire risk rules which we have publish each day together with the risk itself. There are some significant differences, for example the prohibition on “very high” and “maximum” risk days in carrying out work using: strimmers, scrub clearing machinery and shredders, all equipment with exhausts without flame-retardant equipment, cutting equipment such as chainsaws or grinders, or the operation of mechanical methods which, in their use on natural or artificial materials, generate sparks or heat. On the other days there are no restrictions on the use of machinery. This is applicable in rural territories AND in the surroundings of built-up areas.

It is important to familiarize yourself with the new rules to avoid fines, and more hefty penalties should a fire break out arising from the use of such equipment.

We urge everyone to monitor the fire risk daily, and for those who have, will notice an increase in risk over the last week. Temperatures are above average for the time of year and in these conditions coupled with moderate winds fires can start and spread very quickly. A fire in Almodovar (just across the border with the Algarve) on Tuesday, last over 4 hours before being brought to a  conclusion, but luckily was not near to a residential area. Nearly all fires are as a result of negligence and in particular the burning of scrubland (extensive burns) or cut and piled waste without following the safety guidelines.

Of some significance is that since the introduction of the restriction that prohibits extensive burning of land when the fire risk is very high or maximum, the number of fires each day has been below 50 – some would say 50 too many, but as far as we can determine this is far below normal when such burnings were allowed albeit with prior authorisation). We are monitoring this trend.

It is important that tourists are aware of the fire risk and we would remind those who are accommodating overseas guests (either AL or simply relatives from overseas) particularly those in rural areas, to remind them of the basic fire prevention rules. Safe Communities Portugal met a few days ago with the new president of AHETA, in the Algarve to explore ways to promote safety for visitors and we are developing some ideas for consideration.

On Tuesday I also met with Pedro Coelho, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (APA) in the Algarve and discussed what more can be done to create greater awareness of cliff safety, along some of our very nice beaches. The APA website clearly shows cliffs that are unstable through erosion, and areas where landslips and rock falls could be affected. He highlighted the area between Armação de Pera and Lagoa as a high risk area, so please be aware. He undertook to raise this with APA headquarters in Lisbon, to see if more can be done through social media to bring this to people’s attention.

Lastly our condolences to the families and friends of 21 people who died, including 18 children and three adults, on Tuesday at an elementary school in the city of Uvalde, in the US state of Texas. Since 2012 there have been more than 900 incidents of shootings reported on school premises. (…) The list grows even further when we include mass attacks in places like cinemas, houses of worship. It is time to stand up to gun regulations which allows an 18 year old to buy an automatic assault rifle in the same way that he buys a cell phone.The person responsible for this shooting was just 18 years old.

With that have a Safe Day

News

Portugal must be aware of “old threats” of diseases – Director-General of Health

Lisbon, May 24, 2022 (Lusa) – The Director-General for Health (DGS) today defended the importance of the national vaccination plan, warning that Portugal may be subject to “old threats” from diseases, such as polio, which recently registered a outbreak in Mozambique.

“We all have to fight for the continuity and sustainability of the vaccination process and always be very attentive to the re-emergence of old threats”, said Graça Freitas, at the end of the conference “the contribution of vaccination to healthy aging in Portugal”, promoted by biopharmaceutical GSK with the newspaper Público.

“I found out recently – and I was very sad – that poliomyelitis has re-emerged in Mozambique”, said the director-general of Health, for whom this situation demonstrates that “there is always the possibility of importing cases and, from this introduction into the country, , foci of a disease develop” that has been eradicated in Europe.

On May 18, the African office of the World Health Organization (WHO) announced an outbreak of poliomyelitis in Mozambique, declared by the local health authorities after the disease was confirmed in a child, inside the country.

Attributed to wild poliovirus, this is the first case in Mozambique since 1992 and was identified in a child in Tete province, in the northeast, who began to experience paralysis at the end of March.

Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease without a cure that mainly affects children under five and can only be prevented with a vaccine.

The last case of poliomyelitis, with paralysis caused by wild virus, recorded in Portugal was in 1986, and the disease has been officially eliminated since 2002, through European certification granted by the WHO.

For Graça Freitas, vaccination, in addition to being a right and a duty, is also “an act of solidarity, because there are people who cannot be vaccinated due to some special condition”.

CP warns of “significant disruption” on Friday in Lisbon due to strike

CP WARNS OF SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION ON FRIDAY 26^TH MAY IN LISBON DUE TO PARTIAL STRIKE

CP has warned of the possibility of “significant disruption” in Lisbon urban train services on Friday 26^TH May, between 1500 hrs and midnight, due to a partial strike, with no minimum services foreseen.

“CP – Comboios de Portugal informs that, due to a partial strike called by a trade union organization, for the period between 17.00 hrs and 21.00 hrs on May 27, 2022, there may be significant disturbances in the movement of passengers on urban trains in Lisbon, with an expected impact between 15:00 and 24:00 hrs, on the same day”, reads a note from the company.

Also according to CP, the Arbitration Court of the Economic and Social Council did not decree minimum services for this strike, convened by the Railway Union of Itinerant Commercial Review (SFRCI), demanding salary improvements.

In the note, CP “regrets the inconvenience caused to its customers”, recommending that they obtain information about traffic through the company’s website or the helpline (808 109 110, at the cost of a call to the national fixed network).

“CP will make every effort to provide the best possible service to its customers, despite the constraints arising from this situation”, is also mentioned in the statement.

Last Thursday, the SFRCI announced two partial strikes in the urban areas of Porto and Lisbon this month.

The partial strike in the urban area of ​​Porto took place on Monday, between 05:00 and 08:30.

As a CP source told Lusa, around 70% of scheduled trains were suppressed, but the numbers were contested by the union.

Toxic chemicals in European agriculture: the “forbidden fruit” continues to fall on our plate

The use of toxic chemicals in European agriculture continues to increase rather than decrease, warns a study released this Tuesday by PAN Europe (Pesticide Action Network – a network of non-governmental organizations and institutions that works to minimize the negative effects of dangerous pesticides). .

The objective of the European Strategy “From Meadow to Fork” and the European Green Deal is to achieve a 50% reduction in the use of pesticides in agriculture by 2030, but this ambition is far from being approved and implemented. And, contrary to what is recommended, several chemicals used in pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides – which should have been replaced by now – continue to be used in the fruit and vegetables that reach supermarkets and our homes.

“This report and its conclusions contradict official statements that the use of toxic pesticides is decreasing and that the levels found are within acceptable limits” , reads the introduction to the study, which also points the finger at States- members and the European Commission for “failing to apply the regulation and protect consumers”.

Despite the European Union claiming that there was a 12% reduction in the use of the 55 chemical substances listed for substitution, a 2019 European Commission report notes that the promised “phasing out” (since 2011) has not happened. According to the PAN Europe study, instead of decreasing, the usage rate has increased by 8.8% in nine years.

Based on the analysis of more than 97 thousand samples of fresh fruit grown in Europe, and on official data from the 27 Member States, the study – “Forbidden Fruit” – reveals that, in 2019, close to a third of the fruit continued to reveal residues of at least one of the 32 worst chemicals still authorized in the European Union, which scientific studies point to as endocrine disruptors, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances being associated with fertility problems or carcinogens.

These include the fungicide “Ziram” (associated with endocrine disruption); the insecticide “Pirimicarb” (suspected of carcinogenic effects), the fungicide “Metconazole” (potential effects on the human reproductive system). And PAN Europe wants to see them banned quickly and for that it is now starting a new campaign in this sense.

Among the analyzed fruit, they found that half of the cherry samples contained 152% more substances compared to the 2011 samples; a third of apples revealed 117% more; and half of pears and peaches, respectively, plus 103% and 52%.

In the field of vegetables, celery, parsley and cabbage showed less contamination, but even so, there was a 19% increase compared to 2011.

Despite being outside this “top 5”, Portugal also uses these harmful substances. PAN Europe researchers found that 85% of pear samples and 58% of apples produced in Portugal contained residues of the chemicals on the list.

“These substances should be replaced, but this is not happening in Portugal or in other countries”, emphasizes Pedro Horta, from the Zero association. The environmentalist recalls that “the European regulation imposes an approval procedure for products containing these substances that leads to the consideration of replacement alternatives, whether chemical control through less worrisome substances or practices for the prevention and/or control of health problems that the pesticide intends to solve”. However, he says, “according to the DGAV no substitution for alternatives has been made”.

The General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine (DGAV) confirms this in a letter sent to Zero at the beginning of May – and to which Expresso had access – stating that “to date, it has not been possible to replace plant protection products containing CpS [substances active candidates for replacement]”. Among the reasons given by the DGAV are: “the lack of alternatives aimed at an adequate management of enemy resistance”; or the fact that “the product is important considering the minor uses for which it is authorized”.

Portugal Situation Report Wednesday 18^th May 2022

Good morning – Last week I was on holiday, or perhaps I should say a working holiday, in the Azores, which was most enjoyable and a welcome break. If you have not been there before, I highly recommend a visit. I say “working” as part of the time was spent visiting the Civil Protection, PSP and GNR, accompanied by Chris Noble British Honorary Consul, Azores.  We received an excellent and warm reception, learned a great deal, and established channels of communication for the future. I thank all the officials we met and will share these meeting on Facebook posts.

Whilst I was busy with this, my colleague Antonia Vignolo attended a 3 day Medical Response to Major Incidents Course at Portimão Arena. On the course she performed missions ranging from incident management, command and control and management of resources and communications.

This international postgraduate training has its main goal, to promote an integrated response to a serious accident or disaster situation, enhancing the interrogation of all civil protection agents, such as firefighters, professionals of health, doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, security forces and military forces as well as all the entities responsible for command and control management. A few days before my departure I attended an aircraft accident exercise at Faro airport, in which an accident was simulated with live response by the emergency services in the Ria Formosa just off the end of the runway. So you see a very busy time, but well spent further developing our own experience and knowledge.

However, the focus on this week’s introduction is on the weather and related civil protection and public safety issues.

Maximum temperatures will exceed 35 degrees Celsius in some regions of the continent on Friday and Saturday 20th and 21st May, with an increased risk of rural fires and some dust coming from North Africa, according to the IPMA. The forecast is that temperatures in the Alentejo may exceed 35C which is far above average for this time of the year.

In parallel with increasing temperatures, the fire risk will likely increase and it is therefore very important that we do everything to prevent fires. On the subject of risk, the ICNF have introduced changes to the fire risk chart published on the IPMA website each day. These are now more comprehensive and it is essential that all of us living in rural areas are familiar with the new rules. I must emphasise the importance of registering the burning of cut and piled debris, because if you fail to do this and it becomes out of control, this is considered an “intentional fire”. I recommend studying the rules which can be downloaded here. https://fogos.icnf.pt/SGIF2010/InformacaoPublicaDados/Restrictions_RuralFireRiskIndex.pdf

The next point concerning the increasing temperatures is beach safety. We have mentioned this many times before, but people still ignore warning signs.  On Monday our post of unstable cliffs on beaches was widely followed, as there is plenty of information and notices around, on which cliffs are unstable due to sea erosion for instance. The foot of many cliffs are dangerous and signs are in place accordingly. Unfortunately people have been injured or worse in landslips and rocks that have fallen. More about this, as well as a list of beaches in the Algarve where this poses a risk are here. https://apambiente.pt/prevencao-e-gestao-de-riscos/faixas-de-riscos-das-arribas?fbclid=IwAR0RCAyZ4Nag3nK9DMcU8-MLu9I3-vd4Zs6EExDkic-CkCYsZ2EIMDE_v7M

With the very hot weather take care when entering the sea, with rip currents possible in some areas. Not all beaches have lifeguards available at present so know how to spot these and what action to take if caught in one of these. Do not attempt to swim to the shore against the current, but instead swim parallel to the shore until no longer caught in the current and then turn and swim towards the shore.

Unfortunately one of the main causes of drownings are swimming pools, so please keep an eye on children. Do not leave toys in the pool when unattended as young children see these with obvious consequences.

If you are heading into rural areas this weekend please monitor the weather conditions closely and following the government warnings that maybe in place. We will as usual be updating the situation through our Facebook page.

With all that please have a safe weekend

Covid-19

Almost 34 thousand cases of covid-19 on Monday

It is the highest value since February 8 this year, when the country began to decline the explosion of cases seen in January.

Portugal recorded, last Monday, 33,939 new infections by SARS-CoV-2. It is the highest figure since February 8, when the country began to decline the explosion of cases seen in January – with a maximum of 65,907 on the 26th of that month – and which led to the imposition of a week of containment after the New Year. Right now, the daily average of seven-day cases is at 22,500, an increase of 58%.

The highest pace in the North region. According to data provided to JN by mathematician Óscar Felgueiras, last week the daily average of seven-day cases in the North increased by 85%, to 8123, thus accounting for 40% of new daily infections in that period.

Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (LVT) followed, with growth of 60%. In the same vein, the R, an indicator that measures the degree of transmissibility of the virus, has exceeded 1.3 in the northern region, being the highest value this year. With an increasing trend, the national R was, on May 11, at 1.24, the highest value since January 4 of this year. 

News

PSP inspected more than 24,000 drivers during the “Pilgrimage to Fátima 2022” operation

Lisbon, May 17, 2022 (Lusa) – The PSP carried out almost 700 road safety operations and inspected around 24,000 drivers as part of the “Pilgrimage to Fátima 2022” operation, which took place between May 4 and 15, the police said today.

In a statement sent to Lusa with the final results of the operation, the Public Security Police highlights “the absence of occurrences in urban areas involving pilgrims and their support vehicles”.

Within the scope of the “Peregrinação a Fátima 2022” operation, the PSP reinforced the police presence on urban roads with the aim of contributing to the increase of road safety and of pilgrims, with inspection focused on these roads essentially in the control of the speed of car traffic.

The PSP also held information sessions with pilgrims to explain the importance of the systematic and voluntary adoption of road safety behaviours, such as self-protection measures in the context of walking groups with or without the support of vehicles.

The PSP indicates that, between May 4th and 15th, it carried out 693 road safety operations, having inspected 24,073 drivers and controlled 97,754 vehicles by radar, 2,111 of which were speeding.

As part of the operation, this security force carried out 6,456 blood alcohol tests, with 444 motorists driving with excess alcohol, 200 of which at a rate that constitutes a crime.

The PSP also detected 228 drivers using their cell phones while driving and recorded 1,597 road accidents, which caused four deaths.

Commander of the GNR Intervention Unit asks for the creation of a training centre

Lisbon, May 16, 2022 (Lusa) – The commander of the GNR Intervention Unit today called for the creation of a training centre, better conditions for the staff, more vehicles and a reflection on the acquisition of armoured vehicles for the corporation.

“In a reflection on the principles and best strategies to make the most of resources, we have no doubt that we need to implement a centre of excellence in the unit with training infrastructures more suited to the mission to increase the training rate of the personnel of this unit without moving abroad. , saving time, increasing command and control and reducing the burden of using external infrastructure, such as firing ranges”, said Brigadier General Paulo Silvério, at the ceremony that marked the day of the Intervention Unit of the Republican National Guard.

The commander of this GNR unit also advanced with other logistical needs, considering that “it is appropriate to improve the habitability conditions of the unit, it is opportune to reflect on the re-equipment of the capacity of armoured vehicles and to equip, as soon as possible, the subunits with personal transport vehicles and off-road vehicles”.

The same official also said that “the fulfilment of the mission requires, in addition to differentiated equipment and materials, highly qualified human resources, with maximum effectiveness obtained after three years of placement in the unit”.

The Minister of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro, who presided over the ceremony, said that the Government is “at the moment working on a proposal for a programming law for infrastructure and equipment for security forces and services for the period 2022-2026 that will allow continue the effort to train and modernize the security forces”.

Portugal wins nine medals at the International Special Olympics Games Malta

Portugal concluded its participation in the Special Olympics Malta International Games, which end on Wednesday, with nine medals, three of which gold. Portugal participated in the athletics and swimming events by eight athletes.

In swimming, with a delegation of representatives, Portugal won two gold medals, two bronze and one silver.

Andreia Farinha scored twice on the podium, winning gold in the 25m and bronze in the 50m backstroke, as did João Carlos, who won gold in the 100m freestyle and silver in the 50m freestyle. Still in swimming, João Duarte won bronze in the 25 meters breaststroke.

In athletics, Rita Mascarenhas won gold in the long jump, a specialty in which João Sequeira won bronze. In the 200 meters, Rafael Dolores got the silver medal and André Ferreira got bronze in the shot put (level 2).

The Special Olympics movement’s mission is to provide conditions for the practice of physical activity and sport, in a continuous and varied way, with an impact on social inclusion, for children, youth and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Twenty-three delegations from across Europe and beyond gathered from 13 – 18 May for the Special Olympics Malta Invitational Games, the first international Special Olympics event in Europe since the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic.