Our Mission | Safe Communities Portugal

Introduction

Safe Communities Portugal (SCP) is an operating name of Associação SCP Safe Communities Portugal, the country’s only registered national non-profit association providing a “one stop shop” of crime prevention and public information concerning security and safety.

As a public service organisation our services and information are available free of charge to all members of the community. No membership is necessary to receive this.

The aim of SCP is by working together to promote safer communities, enhance security awareness and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime. It does this through a number of specific objectives covering police/public engagement; communication and awareness; as well as public support in the fight against crime and promoting civil protection awareness.

SCP promotes community policing by engaging the police and the community, as well as stimulating citizens own responsibilities in cooperating with the police, in order to reduce overall crime and the fear of crime. This helps keeps neighbourhoods safe and improves the quality of life for everyone.

For residents living in, or persons visiting certain regions in Portugal, SCP has created specific “safe communities”, detailing the services it provides in those areas. To date these are: Safe Communities Algarve , Safe Communities Lisbon and Safe Communities Madeira.

SCP works closely with the Ministry of Internal Administration, GNR, PSP, Judicial Police, SEF, ANEPC, ASAE, ICNF, and Turismo de Portugal, the municipalities, various Embassies and many other authorities in helping to keep Portugal a safe place to live and visit.

The mission of Safe Communities Portugal is to promote safer communities, enhance public safety and security awareness and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of disasters or crime.

Specific Objectives

In achieving the aim SCP’s objectives are:

Assist government authorities, including the GNR and PSP by providing crime prevention and public safety advice and services to the public, through but not limited to such means as: electronic means (website), social forums, the media, conducting seminars and presentations, exhibitions, newsletters and any other means of communicating advice and services to the public;
Encourage the public to report crime and suspicious activities to the GNR, PSP and other appropriate authorities;
Promote the GNR Programa Residência Segura (Safe Residence Program) and help the GNR communicate details of this to residents, including how to join the scheme and where to obtain information;
Provide an independent analysis of any crime and public safety related matters for communication to the public;
Provide a forum of experience and expertise in the private security industry to support and compliment the work of the police;
Meet regularly with government authorities to discuss crime prevention and public safety and enlist their support in developing new initiatives to assist the community in respect of these issues;
Promote the work of Safe Communities Algarve though the media and through other community associations;
Liaise with both local and overseas government authorities, organizations and individuals to help develop the knowledge base of Safe Communities Algarve;
Establish links with and enter into formal agreements with government authorities, governing authorities and organizations to promote the above aims;
To sell or supply any items which further the aims of crime prevention and public safety;
To obtain funding for the activities of the Association by collecting entrance fees, membership subscriptions, by obtaining sponsorship and other available funding;
To make rules, regulations, bye-laws and standing orders concerning the operation of the Association;
To make donations or offer support to any organization or government authority which operate in the area of public safety, crime prevention or policing;
To do all such other things as shall be thought fit to further the interests of the Association or to be incidental or conducive to the attainment of all or any of the objects stated in this Clause