Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 26^th November 2025

We start our weekly report with two disturbing developments. The first of these involves the arrest of 11 volunteer firefighters from the Fundão Volunteer Firefighters Humanitarian Association who are suspected of having committed “two rape crimes and one sexual coercion,” the Judicial Police revealed on Tuesday. The victim is a 19-year-old firefighter subjected to an initiation ritual involving “violent sexual acts.” In a statement, the PJ (Judicial Police) states that the crimes were committed at two different times, inside the barracks in Fundão and Soalheira. The suspects include individuals with responsibilities in the corporation’s hierarchy, including a chief and a deputy chief. Among the evidence gathered are images from CCTV cameras and videos made during the initiation ritual, showing the alleged crimes being committed by the firefighters. However, the Commander says they will not be suspended from their duties!

This a terrible ordeal for the young firefighter concerned. It is important that those responsible are held to account for such despicable criminal acts. Regardless of the commanders decision, the judicial authority at the first hearing can set conditions in the application of coercive measures, that would effectively prohibit those arrested from carrying out their duties – such as being placed in custody – house arrest etc. Apart from this investigation by the Judicial Police, we would call for a wider inquiry should be conducted into whether there have been previous occasions where similar “initiations” have been held, whether in this corporation or others.

The second disturbing report involves the arrest of ten GNR and one PSP officer allegedly involved in a human trafficking network. The Judiciary Police is carrying out a large-scale operation in Beja, designated “Fair Harvest,” to dismantle an alleged human trafficking network. Approximately 300 PJ inspectors from Lisbon, Évora, and the Algarve are involved. Around 50 search warrants and 17 arrest warrants are being executed in Beja, Portalegre, Figueira da Foz, and Porto. The crimes under investigation are aiding illegal immigration, forgery, tax fraud, and money laundering.

Those arrested are expected to begin being questioned this Wednesday at the Central Criminal Court in Lisbon, according to the Lusa news agency. The National Republican Guard (GNR) says there is no place in that structure for military personnel who corrupt the honour and ethics of the guard. The military force says it repudiates acts that call into question dignity and human rights.

Turning to wildfires a report recently released by the OECD into the 2024 and 2025 wildfires in Portugal revealed “coordination failures” between the different forces on the ground, causing delays in response time and increasing their spread..

“Coordination failures between different forces delay response time to fires and increase their spread. The creation of forest firefighting forces in Portugal reinforced the rapid response to fires in forest areas. However, it also contributed to unclear command structures between civil protection, volunteer, and forest firefighting forces,” concludes the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the report “Towards Integrated Management of Rural Fires in Portugal,” which Lusa had access to. The preliminary conclusions of this project, funded by the European Union and carried out in collaboration with the Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management (AGIF), were presented by OECD technicians to Portuguese members of parliament in the Assembly of the Republic.

For the country to create “a stronger institutional framework,” the OECD recommends clarifying the roles and command structures among firefighters and strengthening their capacity. The organization also proposes the development of “a long-term financing strategy for forest fires, in order to increase the efficiency of expenditure on forest fire management.”

Our team wish you a safe and happy week ahead.

News

Food Bank holds another food drive this weekend.

The Food Bank against Hunger (BA) will hold a new food collection campaign in 2,000 stores, with the help of more than 41,000 volunteers, next weekend, the organization announced today.

In a statement, BA explains that “this solidarity action, well known to the Portuguese people,” is an “invitation to share food with those who need it most, so that they can have a more dignified life.”

“The mechanics of participating in the campaign are simple and well known to the Portuguese: during the weekend of November 29th and 30th, simply accept the invitation from one of the more than 41,000 volunteers, distributed across more than 2,000 stores, place non-perishable food products (milk, canned goods, olive oil, sugar, flour, pasta) in the Food Bank bag and share them with those who need them most,” the statement reads.

The campaign, which runs until December 7th through the website www.alimentestaideia.pt and the purchase of product vouchers available at supermarket checkouts, “calls for participation in this real social network that is renewed to help bring food to those in need with food donations.”

Quoted in the statement, the president of the Portuguese Federation of Food Banks Against Hunger, Isabel Jonet, explains that the donated products will then be sent to the warehouses of the 21 Food Banks from north to south of the country, where they are weighed, sorted and packaged.

“The proceeds are distributed locally to people with food insecurity through more than 2,400 social solidarity institutions, previously selected and monitored in their daily activities,” the official stated.

According to available information, the 21 Food Banks distributed 27,448 tons of food last year (with an estimated value of 45 million euros) to 2,400 institutions, delivering the food to nearly 380,000 people with proven food needs, in the form of food baskets or prepared meals.

The Food Bank was created in Portugal in 1991 with the mission of fighting food waste and distributing support to those who most need food, in partnership with solidarity institutions and based on volunteer work.

There are currently 21 Food Banks (in the areas of Abrantes, Algarve, Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Cova da Beira, Évora, Leiria-Fátima, Lisbon, Madeira, West Zone, Portalegre, Porto, São Miguel, Santarém, Setúbal, Terceira, Viana do Castelo and Viseu).

Phone fraud using AI-generated voices is skyrocketing.

The number of scams using automated calls more than doubled by 2025. The use of artificial intelligence in voice cloning has made the schemes increasingly difficult to detect.

Scammers create urgent situations, claim problems with bank accounts or cryptocurrency wallets, and suggest immediate transfers to accounts controlled by criminals. Telephone fraud is becoming more sophisticated. In the Netherlands, the office responsible for combating fraud says that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is causing more and more people to be deceived.

“People are called from an unknown number and, if they answer, they receive a proposal or instructions that seem legitimate.”

In 2024, approximately five thousand complaints of this type of fraud were registered. By 2025, that number had already surpassed twelve thousand. And the financial impact had also increased significantly.

AI technology is being used to clone voices with alarming accuracy. Wouter van Dongen, founder of DongIT, a cybersecurity company, says that even experts are having difficulty distinguishing the real from the fake. AI systems are able to hold realistic conversations, responding coherently to human interactions.

“Personally, I can still tell the difference, but some people can’t. The voices are becoming increasingly credible. If you respond in a certain way, the AI ​​will also respond appropriately.”

According to experts, the only way to protect yourself is to stay informed and, if in doubt, end the call immediately. Awareness is the best defense against this new generation of digital fraud.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 12^th November 2025

Good afternoon everyone. In terms of climate change an important event is taking place in Brazil – COP 30. Specifically Portugal is one of the signatory countries of the “Call to Action on Integrated Fire Management and Wildfire Resilience”, approved within the framework of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) , which is taking place in Belém do Pará, Brazil.

In the commitment “Call to Action on Integrated Fire Management and Forest Fire Resilience,” the signatories acknowledge that wildfires are one of the most dramatic manifestations of climate change, affecting all States equally and constituting a challenge that “no country is capable of facing alone.” COP 30 reinforces “our shared commitment in scaling up Integrated Fire Management (IFM). Of the 10 main provisions the following two stand out as very relevant and necessary in addressing some of these important issues.

Firstly is a commitment to promote a global transition from reactive fire suppression toward proactive, prevention-driven, inclusive and ecological fire management strategies that strengthen adaptation and contribute to mitigation, protect biodiversity and combat desertification, through risk-informed planning and implementation covering the entire fire cycle (prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and ecological use of fire). In Portugal we have seen a dramatic change in this direction over the last five years from the high percentage of budget previously being spent on suppression of fires, to prevention.

Strengthening international Cooperation: prevent, fight and recover from wildfires by taking integrated action to reduce the incidence and negative impacts of wildfires and ensure our readiness to help each other and our partners; this includes enhancing collaboration across borders and institutions, consistent with the UNFCCC’s call for the widest possible cooperation, by, where relevant, and consistent with international legal frameworks, sharing technologies, expertise, and resources, and by enhancing interoperability, including developing common protocols for emergency coordination, capacity development, and regional fire governance, in line with the nature of fires and responses associated with them, as well as work under the FAO-hosted Global Fire Management Hub.

Black Friday which this year is 28^th November is approaching, but in reality the sales have already started in the shops and on-line. Black Friday period is one of those that registers the greatest increase in digital scams, especially phishing scams. In this type of scam, criminals clone pages of well-known stores and create fake websites to steal data or money from consumers.

The last two years have seen the emergence of AI (Artificial Intelligence) used by criminals, which is making holiday shopping scams increasingly difficult to spot. Scammers use machine learning to analyse consumer behaviour, crafting targeted attacks that exploit urgency and trust. For instance, fake online stores pop up overnight, offering unbelievable discounts on hot items, only to vanish after collecting payment and personal data. Safe Communities has prepared a feature in this week’s Portugal Resident (out tomorrow) which explains what has changed and advice on how to spot AL generated scams. If you intend to purchase goods on-line I suggest you study this first.

Yet another storm is approaching and that is Storm Claudia now starting to effect Madeira.

The ANEPC have issued a warning to the population which advises people to take special care when driving and staying near tree-lined areas, being aware of the possibility of falling branches and trees due to stronger winds. Also to be extra careful when driving near the coast and riverfront areas historically more vulnerable to floodwaters coastlines, avoiding traffic and staying in these places. The full advice can be found on our Facebook page yesterday and on our website in English here: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/current-anpc-weather-warning-to-the-population-2/

Please follow the IPMA weather warnings and ANEPC advice and have a safe week ahead.

News:

Healthcare professionals set an example after appeal for blood donations.

There is a risk of blood shortages in hospitals because reserves are below normal. The situation is not yet considered critical, but authorities are again asking the public for help. In hospitals like the one in Braga, healthcare professionals themselves are setting an example.

The appeal from the Portuguese Federation of Voluntary Blood Donors (FEPODABES) resonated even within its own walls. Joana, who works at the Braga Local Health Unit, heard the requests and wanted to donate blood for the first time.

“We were having a coffee chat, our boss spoke up and emphasized the need for blood donation, and I said that I had never donated before and that I would like to do so. She took the opportunity to invite me to become part of this great family that is blood donors,” the professional told SIC.

But it wasn’t the only one. The drop in reserves happens every year around this time. And to prevent the situation from becoming critical, the appeals are repeated.

Aldara Braga, clinical director of the ULS of Braga, states that “there are some unforeseen circumstances that lead to donors being a little less frequent at this time of year ,” due to “infectious incidents.” Work-related issues can also impact donation, and therefore, “the appeal is always, always, always relevant.”

Thanks to the increased donations in recent days, reserves have already begun to improve, and the appeal is nationwide. This appeal has also come from the Portuguese Federation of Donors, which warns of some obstacles that continue to hinder the process.

“Many hospitals that collect blood today have a schedule that makes us very apprehensive, which is closing at three or four in the afternoon. And then we don’t have enough professionals to collect as many blood samples as are needed, which causes the blood supply to decrease,” says Alberto Mota. 

From the ground to the sky: International Hot Air Balloon Festival returns with colors and night time magic.

The event includes daytime flights near the Benavila dam in Avis, and the ‘Night Glow’ night time show in Ponte de Sor, transforming the region’s skies into a palette of vibrant colors.

These days, the Alentejo sky is filled with balloons. The International Hot Air Balloon Festival is taking place in that region until the 13th.

Everything was ready for another day of the festival. It dawned gray, but with safety conditions that allowed for flying, and that increased the anticipation and anxiety.

Still on the ground, next to the Benavila dam in Avis, the colours of the balloon tarpaulins painted the banks of the reservoir. There are 33 pilots of six different nationalities: some come for a mission, others for the scenery, but all for the passion of flying.

The palette of colours invaded the skies of Alentejo, and the anxiety of before gave way to a calm that, during the flight, is only interrupted by the flares.

And the images did not disappoint. Despite the grey weather, once up here it’s desirable to land, and if it’s done with some subtlety, all the better.

The thing is, this ballooning business isn’t exactly an exact science, except in the construction. Many of the balloons that have flown at the festival are manufactured in Madrid, in the only factory on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the few in Europe.

At night, the magic happens again in the skies of Alentejo, this time in Ponte de Sor, with the Night Glow show.

The International Hot Air Balloon Festival is in the air until the 13th. You can check the program on the organization’s website or try your luck and look up at the sky.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 22^nd October 2025

Good afternoon. We start this weekly report with the excellent work being undertaken both by the PSP and GNR. The first is the arrest of seven people during a mega-operation that culminated in the seizure of 5.8 tons of hashish. This is the largest amount of drugs ever seized by the PSP, with an estimated value of over several million euros, this police force announced in the final balance sheet.

Also seized were 580,000 euros in cash, 10 vehicles, 21 cell phones, two satellite phones, two automatic weapons, five pistols, a shotgun, a revolver, three electric weapons, around 500 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, two speedboats, six boats, 21 high-powered engines, six luxury watches, around 15,000 litres of gasoline, video surveillance systems (CCTV), solar panels and communication inhibitors, the PSP announced this Tuesday.

The investigation, which lasted eight months , revealed that the network used drug storage facilities located in strategic areas to facilitate transport by sea, “also possessing weapons, communication equipment and logistical support, which demonstrate a high degree of sophistication and danger”, said the PSP. We congratulate the PSP for their professionalism, and coordination in undertaking such a thorough investigation and well planned and successful operation. Clearly it was a dangerous operation given the type of weapons seized. Well done!

The second, this time by the GNR involves the arrest of two suspects for more than one hundred thefts of non-precious metals from electric vehicle charging stations in the districts of Santarém, Setúbal, Leiria, Lisbon, and Évora. Two of the establishments are located in the Óbidos area.

The investigation had been ongoing for about a month and after the suspects were identified, the Santarém Territorial Command of the GNR executed two arrest warrants and carried out three searches (two at homes and one at a waste management operator).The operation, carried out with the support of the GNR Territorial Commands of Setúbal, Leiria, Lisbon and Évora and the PSP, allowed the seizure of electric charging cables, electric cable dismantling machinery, material from dismantling, cutting shears and protective material, documents related to transactions of non-precious metals and computer equipment and a motor vehicle.

The following case in Alcobaça involves the arrest of two people for fraud, document forgery, possession of prohibited weapons, and misuse of name, emblem, or uniform. The GNR Leiria Territorial Command, through the Criminal Investigation Unit (NIC) in Caldas da Rainha,on, October 20, arrested a man and a woman, aged 37 and 41, in the town of Benedita, in the municipality of Alcobaça.

As part of a criminal investigation that has been ongoing for approximately four months. The GNR officers executed three search warrants: one at a residence and two at a vehicle. Following the operation, two security searches were also conducted on the suspects, resulting in arrests and the seizure of an extensive range of items belonging to the GNR and PSP. The reason why the two arrested should have such a large range of items, has not been disclosed, although the word “misuse” indicates that the suspects were, using, or planning to use, the items, in order to approach members of the public pretending to be police officers

Despite this there are reports in the media that there is public concern that the use of violence in crime is increasing certainly in Lisbon, although the Minister of Internal Administration commented when asked, that “perception does not always reflect reality”. She acknowledged however that, “there is indeed some increase in violent crime, but not as much as the media reports,” argues the Minister of Internal Affairs, Maria Lúcia Amaral. Last week, police recorded five cases of people being shot. In particular, a man was admitted to Amadora-Sintra Hospital in the early hours of Monday morning with gunshot wounds to the knee, after another young man was also left outside the same hospital last Sunday with abdominal injuries.

However, this perception of insecurity was certainly not improved, with the attack yesterday by a person using a sharp weapon at the facilities of the Picapau Association, a drug addiction treatment centre located in Almoster, (not in Lisbon) but in the municipality of Santarém. Two of the victims, who were in serious condition, were transported to Santarém Hospital, while the others were assessed on site by emergency teams. More details are not known at present.

Our team wishes you all the best for the week ahead

News

The European Anti-Torture Committee calls on Portuguese authorities to “completely eradicate” physical abuse by police, adding that complaints continue despite progress made in recent years.

In the report released this Tuesday (October 21) on a visit to Portugal in 2024, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) states that it observed “a decrease” in allegations of ill-treatment by law enforcement officials compared to previous visits to the country”, and that measures were also taken by the Portuguese authorities to address this issue.

However, it highlights that “concerns continue to exist,” having received several allegations of physical mistreatment by Portuguese police, including “excessive use of force during detention.”

“The alleged mistreatment consisted primarily of punches, kicks to the body and/or head and, occasionally, the use of batons,” the document states.

The complaints also included being thrown against a wall, pressure on the head with a foot or on the neck with a knee or baton, “despite the detainees having already been controlled,” the rapporteurs write, also reporting reports of verbal threats and acts of humiliation.

The document makes reference to the need to ensure medical care and better reporting of injuries.

“The Portuguese authorities must remain vigilant and continue their efforts, in line with a zero-tolerance policy, to completely eradicate police mistreatment. They must, in particular, improve reporting of such cases, both internally and to the competent investigative bodies, and provide adequate training to law enforcement officials,” recommend the experts from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman Treatment.

The Committee expressed “deep concern about persistent failures in the response of the Portuguese criminal justice system,” which it said poses a risk to trust in the Portuguese authorities.

“Regarding access to a lawyer, this right does not appear to be guaranteed to people in police custody in all cases, from the beginning of the deprivation of liberty,” the report’s authors noted.

“The CPT continued to note omissions on the part of prison establishments, as well as the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) and the General Inspectorate of Justice Services, in communicating possible cases of mistreatment by law enforcement officials to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as well as cases in which allegations or information indicating mistreatment were not responded to, or were responded to insufficiently quickly, by this service,” the document adds.

The committee also highlighted the need to improve communication and information sharing between criminal and disciplinary investigation bodies, especially in cases where disciplinary and criminal proceedings run in parallel.

The authors of the documents also request that agents be identified during operations and dispute the fact that some agents cover their faces.

The Committee for the Prevention of Torture also recommends that authorities implement the use of body cameras , a measure that, the report’s authors emphasize, offers additional protection against the “risk of excessive use and other forms of treatment, also guaranteeing protection [for officers] against any allegations of ill-treatment.”

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 15^th October 2025

Good afternoon. If you have been monitoring the weather forecasts over the last week, you will see that whereas Portugal has had generally fine weather, this is not the case with our neighbours Spain. Yesterday AEMET raised to a red level warning for torrential rain in the south of the province of Valencia, in effect until at least 15:00 (local time).

The best news is the announcement by Civil Protection is that no one is missing, a circumstance almost surprising given the magnitude of the storm and the images of the streets of several municipalities turned into flooded rivers. Despite this, 18 injuries have been reported, one of them seriously injured after falling, fracturing his hip, and being taken to the hospital. The rest received minor treatments. The Generalitat’s Fire Brigade responded to 340 calls between 17:30 on Sunday (Oct 12) and 7:00 (Oct 13). Thirty-one people were rescued, most of them in their cars on flooded roads.

The powerful DANA was an unprecedented event of torrential rain that broke historical records, for instance with 280 l/m2 in Mas de Barberans, Tarragona.

On the 10th October the Region of Murcia experienced a complicated day due to the heavy rainfall caused by DANA Alice, especially along the Cartagena coast, where up to 120 l/m2 accumulated in just a few hours. Due to this situation, 101 people were forced to evacuate from a campsite that was at risk of flooding, as well as residents of the Bahía Bella and La Algameca residential areas, who were also affected by accumulated rain.

We advise, therefore,  those travelling to parts of Spain, especially areas that have a history of intense rain to check forecasts carefully before heading out. We publish heavy rain and storm warnings on this page and in more detail on our Facebook Group “Safe Communities Portugal Protection again Natural Hazards.

CP railways has opened an investigation, following “internal procedures”, to determine “possible causes and possible improvement actions” that led to Monday’s incident in which an Intercidades (Inter City) train lost one of its carriages midway through a journey between Lisbon and Faro.

CP in a statement said that “Passenger safety was not affected, as the trains are designed to brake and immobilize vehicles in these situations, as happened,” CP said. As for the passengers, they were “safely taken to the remaining carriages” and, “after checking all the carriages and their safety conditions, the train continued its journey to Faro”.

Publico stated: “There were no injuries, nor is the situation potentially very dangerous, as a broken coupling causes a rupture in the main brake line, bringing the train to an immediate stop. On all CP trains, the carriages are always connected by automatic brake lines. If the train accidentally splits (as was the case with the coupling break), both separate sections of the train stop automatically, regardless of the line’s gradient”. “Everything indicates that some maintenance failure led to the coupler’s failure, as CP has been having difficulty performing general overhauls on its carriages. Currently, one in five Intercidades carriages is parked in workshops awaiting maintenance or repairs”.

It is important that the investigation is completed quickly and thoroughly given the large number of passengers that travel daily on the Inter City trains throughout the mainland.

Lastly please remember that the fire risk remains very high in places so we much not be complacent when it comes to fire prevention. The ground is still very dry in some places and yesterday much of the mainland had a minimum relativity of under 30%. Remember a small spark can cause a very large fire. Follow the regulations in place.

Have a good week ahead 

News:

CP opens investigation to “determine the causes” of “anomaly” that separated train carriage

In a clarification to SIC, CP confirmed the incident that occurred this Monday at “around 4 pm” indicating that the train in question “had an anomaly when leaving Grândola station”.

CP has opened an investigation, following “internal procedures”, to determine “possible causes and possible improvement actions” that led to Monday’s incident in which an Intercidades train lost one of its carriages midway through a journey between Lisbon and Faro.

In a clarification to SIC, CP confirmed the incident that occurred this Monday “around 4 pm” indicating that the train in question “had an anomaly when leaving Grândola station”.

The problem was caused by “a rupture in the coupling between two trains, which resulted in the train’s carriages separating.” According to the company, “there are no previous records of this failure occurring in the mechanical element that broke.”

“Passenger safety was not affected, as the trains are designed to brake and immobilize vehicles in these situations, as happened,” CP said.

As for the passengers, they were “safely taken to the remaining carriages” and, “after checking all the carriages and their safety conditions, the train continued its journey to Faro”.

As for the carriage that separated from the train, the company indicates that “it was rescued in Grândola with the help of a Medway locomotive”.

The company guarantees that “periodic maintenance of all rolling stock is scrupulously carried out by the company” and the inspection plan “is being carried out as planned”.

As reported this morning, the Aircraft and Railway Accident Prevention and Investigation Office has also opened an investigation to gather more information about the incident.

According to the newspaper Público, which broke the news this Tuesday, one in every five Intercidades carriages is stopped waiting for maintenance or repairs.

Theranostics: medicine’s latest investment in cancer diagnosis and treatment

It allows doctors to pinpoint the location of tumour cells and deliver radiation treatment to them to kill them. The Porto IPO was the country’s largest medical centre to invest in this technology, with encouraging results for patients.

It’s just a feeling, but exactly the one you’re looking for after years of cancer treatments. “I think my disease has practically disappeared with this treatment,” Albano Soares tells SIC.

“I’m much better. I didn’t eat, I didn’t sleep, I didn’t walk – I went through all those phases – and now I eat, I sleep, I breathe well and I’m much better. I can get dressed by myself and everything, and back then I couldn’t even do that.”

This is a successful case of prostate cancer resulting from a nuclear medicine therapeutic and diagnostic approach: theranostics. This is a highly personalized approach to the patient and the tumour. It’s only possible with highly qualified professionals and cutting-edge technology like this Gama Digital Camera. It’s been at the Porto IPO since July and is one of two in the entire country.

But not all cancer patients are suitable for this approach. For now, the radiopharmaceuticals prepared here at the Porto IPO are used as a second-line treatment for neuroendocrine tumours and as a last-line treatment for prostate tumours.

The Porto IPO’s investment in the theranostics field has already exceeded five million euros. It was the Portuguese unit that invested most heavily in this area. Last year, Porto’s nuclear medicine service performed approximately 16,000 procedures, 300 of which were therapeutic.