Braga, Portugal, May 30, 2025 (Lusa) - The national director of the Public Security Police, Luís Carrilho, said on Friday that Portugal "is one of the safest countries", stressing that this is "a reality that must be stated, celebrated and protected".
Speaking in Braga during the ceremony commemorating the 148th anniversary of the local Public Security Police (PSP) command, Luís Carrilho stressed that it (Braga) is also "one of the safest urban areas in the country".
"Portugal is, fortunately, one of the safest countries in the world and Braga is one of the safest urban areas in the country. This is not institutional rhetoric, this is a reality that must be stated, celebrated and protected," he said.
In his speech, Luís Carrilho warned of the importance of recruiting new professionals, stressing that it is necessary to invest in the ability to "attract the best", particularly women, in the name of a "more modern, more humane and better prepared" police force.
The deputy commander of the PSP in Braga, Sérgio Soares, warned of a 40% increase in the area under the jurisdiction of that command, a decrease in the ratio of police officers per thousand inhabitants and an increase in the age of police officers.
"Twenty-four years ago, there were 2.7 police officers per thousand inhabitants, today there are 2.3 and the average age is 49," he said.
He stressed that, even so, crime in the district had fallen.
In 2024, general crime in the area under the jurisdiction of the Braga PSP Command fell by 8.7% compared to 2023, which is equivalent to 578 fewer reports, according to the police.
With regard to violent or serious crime, the PSP recorded a decrease of 2.4% (six fewer reports).
Sérgio Soares also referred to investment in improving facilities, with work underway at the Vila Nova de Famalicão police station and plans for upgrade work in Barcelos and Guimarães.
As for the Braga command facilities, the refurbishment is "under preliminary study".
The Mayor of Braga, Ricardo Rio, called for ‘proactivity’ in the renewal of human resources and appealed for the installation of video surveillance in the city.
The Braga Command of the PSP is responsible for a territorial area of approximately 89.4 square kilometres, which also includes the cities of Guimarães, Vila Nova de Famalicão and Barcelos, where, according to the 2021 Census, 234,677 inhabitants resided.
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