Lisbon, Aug. 21, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese Police Professionals' Trade Union Association (ASPP) has requested an urgent meeting with the prime minister, Luís Montenegro, to discuss the rise in crime and the constraints affecting the police, such as staff shortages and a lack of motivation.
In a statement released today, the ASPP, the main trade union association for the Public Security Police (PSP), justifies its request for a meeting by citing the rise in crime, the «lack of autonomy and capacity to resolve» problems, and also the inability to engage in «constructive negotiations» with the internal affairs ministry (MAI).
Among the ASPP's main concerns are the PSP's reduced capacity to respond to the needs of the public, the shortage of officers on the ground and the «growing demotivation that is rife» amongst officers.
For the ASPP, «the rise in criminal incidents is unequivocally a reflection of the current policing model and its scale being ill-suited to the country's real needs».
The association considers the lack of clarity surrounding the negotiation process and the alleged failure to implement the agreement reached in 2024 to be a cause for concern, attributing responsibility for its implementation to the prime minister as the «ultimate authority».
In response to its urgent request for a meeting with Luís Montenegro, the ASPP says it received nothing more than the «bureaucratic forwarding» of that request to the office of the minister of internal affairs.
The trade union considered the response insufficient and reaffirmed its willingness to collaborate in finding solutions, whilst demanding «answers, dialogue, genuine and effective negotiation» and a commitment to upholding the dignity of the PSP and its staff.
The ASPP leadership will meet shortly to analyse the current situation, with a view to the need for strategic intervention and the «urgent resumption» of negotiations, as well as compliance with the 2024 agreement.
The upgrading of police careers, the immediate recruitment of more staff and a structural strengthening of the PSP's capacity are among the ASPP's other demands.
SIM/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
