Month: October 2020

PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS TO THE NATIONAL AFTER THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS METTING

The Extraordinary Council of Ministers, which began at 10 this Saturday morning in the Palácio da Ajuda, ended eight hours later. Prime Minister António Costa then spoke to the country and announced the measures agreed upon to halt the advance of the covid-19 pandemic.

At the end of the extraordinary Council of Ministers, António Costa recalled the beginning of the pandemic in Portugal and stressed that “the deconfinement has allowed the economy to evolve” after several months of decline.

Now, according to the Prime Minister, the challenge is to “contain the pandemic without paying again the brutal personal, economic, social and family cost” that the initial measures have brought.

António Costa stated, in front of the journalists, that from 9th of November the government will put rapid testing into action.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of the Stayaway Covid application, at a time when 2.4 million people have already downloaded it onto their mobile phones.

“We need to free up health professionals who are doing this work” to do it ourselves “with a simple click”, he urged.

“We are strengthening the National Health Service’s response capacity,” assured the leader of the Executive, adding that back-up spaces and retired nurses are being reactivated to contact trace. “We decided today to do this”, said the Prime Minister.

“We are also developing a reinforcement of 202 new ICU beds by the first quarter of next year”, he announced, adding that the “exceptional hiring of nurses for ICUs” will be another of the Government’s measures in this regard (365 vacancies). A call for applications will be launched in January for a further 46 intensivists (ICU professionals), in addition to the ones already underway. “Because it is not enough to have beds, ventilators, negative pressure rooms, it is essential to have human resources. That implies this effort we are making,” he says.

“We believe it is essential to strengthen measures to combat this pandemic,” said the Prime Minister, adding that from the outset the Government’s maxim was to adopt “measures that are as effective as possible in controlling the pandemic, but that generate as little disruption as possible in the lives of individuals, society in general and our economy.

António Costa once again called on the population to collaborate in this fight, despite understanding the “fatigue” in relation to the measures that have been taken. The PM stressed that the fatigue of health professionals and those in the front line has also been difficult to overcome, so more needs to be done to fight Covid-19.

The first measure is self-responsibility.

If the first major measure is self-responsibility, the restrictions still need to be extended, says the Prime Minister, who recalls the measures taken a week ago at a regional level.

The government has adopted the European Centre for Disease Control’s criterion that in situations where there are at least 240 cases per 100,000 people in the previous 14 days, there will be tighter pandemic control measures. “This is a criterion which applies to several municipalities in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto”, he says, which has already applied to the three municipalities that have been confined.

Situations where a municipality is above that criterion as a result of a confined outbreak of, for example, a nursing home, will be excluded. This is the case of Alvaiázere, the Prime Minister specifies. Conversely, there may be municipalities that are not above 240 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, but are “islands” in all the municipalities around them. “This is the case of Moita, Montijo, Barreiro and Alcochete, which were below 240, the case of Sobral de Monte Agraço or Viana do Castelo”, says António Costa, citing other examples.

Every 15 days, the Council of Ministers will revisit the list, hoping to remove some and potentially add others. “It is important not to create false expectations. November will be a very tough month”.

The rules that will apply from 4 November in the 121 municipalities that have been flagged are:

This is what is determined:

the duty to remain at home, with citizens being required to refrain from circulating in public spaces and streets, as well as in private spaces and streets assimilated to public roads, except for all journeys previously authorised, to which are added journeys for activities carried out in day centres, to visit users in residential structures for the elderly and for people with disabilities, integrated continuous care units of the National Network of Integrated Care or other responses dedicated to elderly people, as well as trips to post offices, bank branches and insurance or insurance brokers’ agencies and trips necessary to leave continental national territory;
it is determined, as a rule, that all retail and service establishments, as well as those in commercial complexes, close by 22h00;
it is now provided that the mayor of the municipality with territorial jurisdiction may set a closing time lower than the ceiling, subject to the assent of the local health authority and the security forces;
it is stipulated that celebrations and other events involving a crowd of more than five people are prohibited, unless they belong to the same household, and that fairs and markets are prohibited, with religious ceremonies and shows being permitted in accordance with the rules of the Directorate-General for Health;
it is stipulated that the teleworking regime must be adopted, regardless of the employment situation, whenever the duties in question allow it, unless the worker is prevented from doing so;
Closing time for restaurants 22.30 hrs
it is determined that the exceptional and transitory regime of work reorganisation (contained in DL 79-A/2020) is applicable to companies with workplaces with 50 or more workers, in the territorial areas of the municipalities identified in annex II of the RCM (currently this regime was applicable to the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto).

Besides the exceptional measures described above, the number of people in each group in restaurants is limited to six, for the whole national territory, unless they belong to the same family.

In the remaining continental national territory, the regime of the calamity situation that was defined continues to apply.

The municipalities with a high risk of transmission of Covid-19, to which the new measures to combat the pandemic will apply:

Alcácer do Sal,
Alcochete,
Alenquer,
Alfândega da Fé,
Alijó,
Almada,
Amadora,
Amarante,
Amares,
Arouca,
Arruda dos Vinhos,
Aveiro,
Azambuja,
Baião,
Barcelos,
Barreiro,
Batalha,
Beja,
Belmonte,
Benavente,
Borba,
Braga,
Bragança,
Cabeceiras de Basto,
Cadaval,
Caminha,
Cartaxo,
Cascais,
Castelo Branco,
Castelo de Paiva,
Celorico de Basto,
Chamusca,
Chaves,
Cinfães,
Constância,
Covilhã,
Espinho,
Esposende,
Estremoz,
Fafe,
Figueira da Foz,
Fornos de Algodres,
Fundão,
Gondomar,
Guarda,
Guimarães,
Idanha-a-Nova,
Lisboa,
Loures,
Macedo de Cavaleiros,
Mafra,
Maia,
Marco de Canaveses,
Matosinhos,
Mesão Frio,
Mogadouro,
Moimenta da Beira,
Moita,
Mondim de Basto,
Montijo,
Murça,
Odivelas,
Oeiras,
Oliveira de Azeméis,
Oliveira de Frades,
Ovar,
Palmela,
Paredes de Coura,
Paredes,
Penacova,
Penafiel,
Peso da Régua,
Pinhel,
Ponte de Lima,
Porto,
Póvoa de Varzim,
Póvoa do Lanhoso,
Redondo,
Ribeira da Pena,
Rio Maior,
Sabrosa,
Santa Comba Dão,
Santa Maria da Feira,
Santa Marta de Penaguião,
Santarém,
Santo Tirso,
São Brás de Alportel,
São João da Madeira,
São João da Pesqueira,
Sardoal,
Seixal,
Sesimbra,
Setúbal,
Sever do Vouga,
Sines,
Sintra,
Sobral de Monte Agraço,
Tabuaço,
Tondela,
Trancoso,
Trofa,
Vale da Cambra,
Valença,
Valongo,
Viana do Alentejo,
Viana do Castelo,
Vila do Conde,
Vila Flor,
Vila Franca de Xira,
Vila Nova de Cerveira,
Vila Nova de Famalicão,
Vila Nova de Gaia,
Vila Pouca de Aguiar,
Vila Real,
Vila Velha de Ródão,
Vila Verde,
Vila Viçosa,
Vizela

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Lisbon, 31 Oct 2020 (Lusa) – The Council of Ministers meets today to decree “immediate actions” to control the pandemic, one day after the Prime Minister received the parties with parliamentary seats with a view to reaching a consensus on these decisions.

In view of the worsening situation at the national level, the Prime Minister met Friday with parties with parliamentary seats, while the Minister of Economy received social partners on possible containment measures.

“We did not exclude any possible measure at the outset, but we understand that we must adopt measures that disturb personal, social and economic life as little as possible. We must take into account a second element that I have tried to convey: We are facing a long-distance race and, therefore, we cannot spend all the effort or all the measures in the first moments “, António Costa said on Thursday.

The extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, which starts at 10:00 am, in the Palácio da Ajuda, takes place one day after the country has surpassed the records since the beginning of the pandemic covid-19 with the registration of 40 dead, 4,656 infected and 1,927 inpatients, 275 of whom are in intensive care, according to the Directorate-General for Health.

On the table for discussion will be several possibilities, including the mandatory withdrawal and the extension of restrictions imposed in Paços de Ferreira, Felgueiras and Lousada to more municipalities, as stated on Friday, the Minister of Economy, Siza Vieira, who refused general confinement.

According to the PAN, the Government is considering decreeing a general confinement, but only in the first half of December, to preserve the Christmas period. However, the leader of the PAN André Silva said that this measure was not presented as being certain and stressed that it requires a state of emergency.

According to the leader of the Liberal Initiative, Cotrim Figueiredo, the Government admitted at the hearing on Friday the possibility of being imposed the curfew in counties where the incidence rate reaches 240 per hundred thousand inhabitants.

Through the PSD, Rui Rio warned that the current situation is “even more serious” than that seen in March and said that the country will not experience general confinement because the country’s economy does not allow it. The PSD, he said, will always be “on the side of the solution”, if the Government proposes a new state of emergency.

BE coordinator Catarina Martins, for the time being, has ruled out the need for a new state of emergency, arguing that the Government should use all the installed capacity in health, if necessary using the civil requisition of the private and social sectors.

The PCP, through the voice of the secretary general, Jerónimo de Sousa, pointed out that the executive led by António Costa must take “proportional” and “pedagogical” measures, warning that a health problem “cannot be transformed into a police case” .

Among the parties received by the prime minister on Friday, the ENP defended that it will be against any measure that violates citizens’ rights, freedoms and guarantees and, on the possibility of a new state of emergency being declared, he warned that “it is necessary more pedagogy, more campaign and more effort “in terms of quality of life for the Portuguese.

For Chega, a party that handed over to the Administrative Court of the Lisbon Circle a “subpoena for the defense of rights, freedoms and guarantees” against the ban on movement between municipalities in the national territory, (which runs from today until 06:00 am) November 3), André Ventura criticized the possibility of applying the rules already in force in Paços de Ferreira, Lousada and Felgueiras throughout the national territory, considering that this would be “an injustice”.

Regarding the possibility of a new general confinement in the first half of December, André Ventura considered that “it is not justified and it may even be counterproductive”.

The state of emergency was decreed, for 15 days, from March 19 to April 2, 2020 and was renewed twice, effective until May 2.

Portugal has been in a calamity situation since the 14th of October throughout the national territory.

The disease is transmitted by a new coronavirus detected in late December 2019 in Wuhan, a city in central China.

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We remind everyone that the above comes into effect at midnight tonight 29th/30th. To help we have compiled the attached poster showing the main provisions.

VISITORS/TOURISTS

We have received in the last few days around 300 questions/comments concerning the movement of non-residents (mainly tourists/visitors). Some clarification is needed. In order to ensure the most accurate answers we have put the main three to the GNR for an official response. This is as follows:

“1.Eles podem viajar entre acomodação em hotel ou ficar, digamos, em AL se a mudança de acomodação for durante esse período em um município diferente?

É possível, desde que a deslocação seja comprovada – alínea l) nº 16 RCM 89-A/2020.

2.Eles podem realizar atividades turísticas normais, ou seja, visitar diferentes municípios para passeios turísticos?

Apenas são admitidas deslocações, entre concelhos limítrofes ou dentro da mesma Área Metropolitana, para assistir a espetáculos culturais, devendo nestes casos estarem munidos do respetivo bilhete – alínea m) N.º 16 RCM 89-A/2020.

3.Uma pessoa pode ir ao aeroporto buscar um membro da família que está hospedado com ela ou devolvê-lo ao aeroporto se este for em um município diferente

Não pode. Neste caso deve recorrer a transportes públicos (Expresso, Taxi, TVDE – estes deslocam-se no âmbito de uma atividade profissional). Contudo, de acordo com o N.º 15 e 18 da RCM 89-A/2020, sendo um caso urgente ou sem alternativa de transporte, admite-se a realização do referido deslocamento.”

TRANSLATION

Please see the above including English translation here

1.Can they travel between hotel accommodation or stay in, say, AL (local lodging) if the change of accommodation is during that time in a different municipality?

Reply: It is possible, as long as the displacement is proven – point l) nº 16 RCM 89-A / 2020.

2.Can they carry out normal tourist activities, that is, visit different municipalities for sightseeing?

Trips or only allowed, between neighbouring municipalities or within the same Metropolitan Area, to attend cultural shows, in which case they must be provided with the respective ticket – item m) No. 16 RCM 89-A / 2020.

Can a person go to the airport to pick up a family member who is staying with him or return him to the airport if he is in a different municipality (to the airport)?

Cannot. In this case, you must use public transport (Expresso, Taxi, TVDE – they travel within the scope of a professional activity). However, in accordance with No. 15 and 18 of RCM 89-A / 2020, being an urgent case or with no transportation alternative, the referred trip is allowed.

THIS has taken our volunteer a great deal of work. To save us a great deal more we appreciate if you would refrain from personal opinion or comments so it is easier for others to seek any clarification that is necessary as it affects you. Thank you

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The president of the District Civil Protection Commission of Porto today presented a proposal to the Government that, due to the increasing number of cases of covid-19 in the region, a curfew should be introduce in the district .

Speaking to the Lusa agency, Marco Martins, who is also mayor of Gondomar, said he had spoken with most of the mayors in the district and that everyone agreed that “more serious measures are needed, but measures that balance public health and the economy”.

“We cannot, of course, return to confinement, we must have balance”, he defended.

The information made available by health authorities states that “most contagions occur at family parties or social gatherings”, he recalled.

Thus, considered Marco Martins, “the most sensible and prudent way will be the curfew at night, similar to what is already being done in many places in Europe in the last two weeks”.

“What we think, in contact with the mayors of Felgueiras, Lousada and Paços de Ferreira, is that the measures have no logic to be applied only to one, two or three municipalities, because what happens is that people leave these municipalities and go have dinner at the restaurant or have fun at the establishments in the county next door”, he stressed.

Therefore, he argues that “it is necessary to apply the measures to a wider area, a district or a region”.

“We have to stop this situation,” he said.

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We start the day with bad news but it is important people are aware.

Yesterday the Minister of health announced that according to projections by 4^th November the number of those in hospital from Covid 10 will reach 2634 and those in intensive care 444. Currently they are 1672 and 240 respectively.

Also by 28^th October the number of those in hospitalised in intensive care will exceed the highest since the start of the pandemic which was 271.

These calculations and estimates were put forward by the Minister of Health, Marta Temido, in a statement this Monday, taking into account the growing trend of new cases and hospitalizations in recent days.

These estimates are “according to estimates and calculations made by the National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Health and the Instituto Superior Técnico”.

This will be “a highly complex scenario “, acknowledged Marta Temido, admitting that more municipalities may be the target of restrictive measures such as those applied in Lousada, Felgueiras and Paços de Ferreira.

Meanwhile he Director-General of Health, Graça Freitas, said this Monday that Portugal has an accumulated notification rate of 14 days greater than or equal to 240 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

The minister of Health Marta Temido explained that government is considering that non-covid-19 patients who see appointments, tests or surgeries at the National Health Service (SNS) to be cancelled due to the worsening of the pandemic and referred to the private and social sectors.

In a press conference at the Ministry of Health, in Lisbon, the minister emphasized that the recovery of the assistance activity for patients with other pathologies had “only a difference of 600,000 consultations between urgent and non-urgent in primary health care until September compared to the same period last year, in a volume of 31 million”, but acknowledged that the exponential increase in cases may again condition the SNS response.

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Graça Freitas acknowledges that there were “discrepancies between the recommendations and the inspection” of the organization of the Portuguese Grand Prix of Formula 1

The director-general of Health acknowledged this Monday, during the usual press conference to update the epidemiological evolution, that “there were things that went well and others that went less well” at the Portuguese Grand Prix of Formula 1, held during the weekend in Portimão.

Graça Freitas admitted that there were “discrepancies between the recommendations and the ability to inspect” on the part of the organization, although she does not believe that “this will result in a problematic situation”.

The head of DGS guaranteed that there is a “willingness to improve” and draw “lessons learned for the future”: “We have to restrict events a lot”, added Graça Freitas, adding that there was “co-responsibility of citizens, organization and Directorate-General for Health ”for the verified images of the assemblies,, without regard for physical distance, during the Portuguese GP.

Earlier Paulo Pinheiro, administrator of the Autódromo do Algarve, refuted accusations of non-compliance with the rules of social distance and gave a positive assessment of the F1 Grand Prix of Portugal. In total, according to the administrator, about 27 700 people attended the AIA, “150 or 200 more than the one defined by the DGS”.

Regarding the long lines of traffic that formed between the A22 (Via do Infante) and the race track, before the start of the race, and which also generated criticism, GNR points the finger at people’s behaviour: “As is usual in large events, we asked people to travel to the event well in advance, but that did not happen and, from 12 noon, the queues started to appear”.

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DGS determines that rapid tests should be preferred in outbreaks in schools or homes

Rapid tests should also be used “in situations of social urgency”, such as children at risk and victims of violence. The strategy determined by the Directorate-General for Health takes effect on November 9

The National Test Strategy for SARS-CoV-2, published this Monday, determines that in outbreak situations in schools, homes or other institutions, rapid tests should preferably be used in order to apply “quickly the appropriate public health measures”.

“In an outbreak situation (such as, for example, schools, educational establishments, Residential Structures for the Elderly (ERPIs) and similar / closed institutions), rapid antigen tests (TRAg) should preferably be used”, refers the strategy disclosed by Directorate-General for Health (DGS).

According to the document, “the tests must be carried out by the Public Health teams indicated for the rapid intervention (including obtaining results of laboratory tests used in less than 12 hours), in inter-sectoral articulation with municipal partners, or others, in a way to implement appropriate public health measures quickly “.

Rapid tests should also be used “in situations of social urgency (for example, children at risk, victims of violence).

The strategy, which takes effect at 12:00 am on 9 November, follows the current recommendations of international health organizations and is supported “by the best available scientific evidence”, aiming to contribute to “the protection of Public Health and to mitigate the impact of pandemic in health services and in the most vulnerable populations “.

The standard, published on the DGS website, states that for the diagnosis of covid-19 in patients without hospitalization criteria, with indication for clinical surveillance and isolation at home, the molecular nucleic acid amplification test (TAAN) should be used. or the rapid antigen test (TRAg), preferably in the first 5 days of symptoms.

In people with negative TRAg results, a confirmatory molecular test should be performed, at most within the next 24 hours, in situations of high clinical suspicion of covid-19.

Molecular testing should be performed on patients with admission criteria before admission. If the test is not available or does not allow the result to be obtained in less than 12 hours, a quick test should be used.

In asymptomatic people with high-risk contact with a confirmed case, the molecular test or a rapid test should be used, in case the TAAG is not available or does not allow results in less than 24 hours.

To prevent and mitigate the impact of covid-19 on health services and vulnerable populations, DGS says that a clinical and epidemiological questionnaire “should be carried out by the clinical team within 24 to 72 hours” before hospital admission.

“In urgent and emerging procedures, the absence of a laboratory test should not delay the provision of adequate clinical care and, in these circumstances, the Personal Protective Equipment must be used by health professionals”, the document emphasizes.

In health care units, tests should be carried out before performing aerosol-generating procedures, surgeries, before admission to childbirth assistance, for admission to intermediate and intensive care.

Molecular tests or rapid tests for regular screening (between 7 and 14 days) of health professionals who provide “direct and highest risk of contagion” care, appropriate to the context of each service / institution, should be considered.

In Residential Structures for the Elderly (ERPI), Units of the National Integrated Continuing Care Network (RNCCI), social reception institutions and reception centers for migrants and refugees, tests must be carried out up to 72 hours before admission.

In a situation of scarcity of available resources, people with suspected infection with criteria for hospitalization and patients with conditions associated with progression to severe covid-19 have priority for testing.

Priority in outbreak situations is also given to users and / or residents of RNCCI, ERPI, care institutions, new borns and pregnant women, health professionals and people before carrying out aerosol-generating procedures.

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PSP closes space in Coimbra with 75 people, “most without a mask”

The closed establishment is located on Avenida Sá da Bandeira, in the city of the students.

The PSP closed a restaurant and drinks establishment on Avenida Sá da Bandeira, in Coimbra, at dawn on Tuesday 20^th Oct, for failure to comply with the measures required by the State of Calamity.

In a statement sent to Notícias ao Minuto, PSP said that it received a complaint that the space was trading, with music inside, after the allocated trading hours.

Upon arriving at the establishment, at around 1:20 am, the agents spoke to the establishment manager, who assured him that he had “some customers”, but that they were already paying and were about to leave the premises.

The officer waited, but as the clients did not leave, they entered the establishment and found 75 people, most of them drinking alcohol and circulating without an individual protection mask, thus violating the rules in force.

For this reason, an order was given to close the establishment.

So far, the Coimbra Public Security Police Command has prepared 105 actions for offenses, for infractions related to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

GNR’s operation at the Portuguese Grand Prix in Formula 1 “went smoothly”

In a statement, the GNR stresses that “around 600 military personnel from various fields were engaged in a coordinated action to act in a preventive manner for all types of situations that could jeopardize the security of the event, plus the need to comply with the established rules in the current pandemic context “caused by covid-19.

GNR added that, during the event on Sunday, there was a relocation of people, to ensure compliance with the rules of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), and today it was necessary to “redirect them, to some less filled stands”. Having this change was taken in conjunction with the race organization, to ensure the necessary social distance.

“It should be noted that the commitment was more intense, as expected, in the control of road traffic, as a result of the natural high influx of people to the venue simultaneously, noting, however, that the event took place in total safety”.

SEF detains foreign citizen with international arrest warrant for extradition

The Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) this week arrested a foreign citizen in Portalegre who was the target of an international arrest warrant for extradition to the United Arab Emirates.

The detention was carried out at the SEF Portalegre Regional Delegation when the citizen presented himself there in order to request the granting of a temporary residence permit.

After consulting Interpol’s database, an alert inserted by the authorities of the United Arab Emirates was verified.

PSP searched several municipalities and detained seven people

The PSP have conducted 23 searches which resulted in 7 arrests, seizure of more than 10,000 doses of narcotic drugs (Hashish, Heroin, Cocaine, Liamba and Amphetamines), more than forty-four thousand euros in ECB notes (European Central Bank)

The Public Security Police plan of the Metropolitan Command of Porto, through the Criminal Investigation Division, on Monday 19th, triggered a police operation aimed at a wide range of individuals who were involved organized ring dedicated to drug trafficking in the area of Greater Porto.

The operation included 13 home searches and 10 non-home searches in: Porto, Matosinhos, Maia and Valongo, which resulted in seven arrests of individuals aged between 28 and 43 years of age.

The following items were seized: 5 580- doses of hashish, 2 297 doses of cocaine, 2 583 doses of Liamba, 141 doses of heroine, 397 doses of Amphetamines, various packages with anabolic steroids; € 44,807 in bank notes, two high-end motor vehicles, a money counting machine and objects used in the preparation and direct sale of narcotic drugs.

Man tries to kill girlfriend and blames self-mutilation

On Saturday 17^th Oct at 1.30am an attempted homicide took place in a hostel on Avenida Almirante Reis, in Lisbon. The victim is in hospital, but her prognosis is not good.

A woman is fighting for her life after being brutally stabbed by her boyfriend. The crime took place in a hostel in Lisbon and the suspect has already been detained by the Judicial Police.

He is a Portuguese national and she is a Swiss national, the couple spent a few days in the Portuguese capital and returned to the hostel on Avenida Almirante Reis where he was staying, an argument induced by jealousy escalated.

The neighbours in adjacent rooms became aware of the violent argument and contacted 112 for help. The suspect opened the door to PSP agents, the first to arrive at the scene. The man appeared to be upset and had a cut on his hand, but the amount of blood on the bedroom floor revealed a more serious scenario.

The 47-year-old woman was on the floor with several deep stab wounds. She was first aided by the firemen of Penha de França, but given the severity of the injuries, it was necessary to call INEM. Despite being seriously injured, the victim was conscious and told the authorities that there had been a disagreement between the couple.

When questioned, the suspect claimed that his companion had self-mutilated and that it was not the first time and that he got the cut on his hand because he was trying to stop the woman from harming herself. The woman was transported to the hospital in critical condition and after having undergone surgery her prognosis is bad.

The hostel’s video surveillance images were crucial in finding out what happened on Saturday morning. According to the court, the woman had already filed several complaints in Switzerland against her partner for domestic violence.

The man will be presented in a court facing charges of the crimes of attempted homicide, domestic violence and the possession and use of a prohibited weapon.

The Challenges of Countering Human Trafficking in the Digital Era

Modern communication technologies – namely the internet, social media, and mobile applications – have significantly impacted how organised crime groups involved in international trafficking in human beings operate. Technology has broadened criminals’ ability to traffic human beings for different types of exploitation, including sexual and labour exploitation, the removal of organs, illegal adoption of children and forced marriages.

Human traffickers are using increasingly modern communication technologies to exploit their victim’s multiple times over: from advertising and recruiting victims, to blackmailing them with photos and videos to control their movements. To counter this threat, we must use the great advantage of shared intelligence and collect more digital evidence to connect the dots between national and international investigations.

Fighting human trafficking is one of the EU and Europol’s top priorities and to mark the EU Anti-Trafficking Day 2020 Europol is publishing the challenges of countering human trafficking in the digital era.

“Help Rescue and get stoned”: Fire commander revolted after ambulance attack in Carnaxide

An ambulance transporting patients was stoned Wednesday night 14^th Oct by a group of people at Alto dos Barronhos in Carnaxide, Oeiras.

The patient and the two firefighters inside the vehicle had to take refuge at the Municipal Police station. Two PSP agents arrived at the scene but were unable to diffuse situation. Only once reinforcements arrived was it possible for the ambulance to leave the police station, under police escort.

Correio da Manhã spoke with Dafundo’s Fire Commander, Carlos Jaime, who considers this episode “revolting”.

“Firefighters help people and are stoned. It is revolting,” said Carlos Jaime, who confirmed to the CM that the firefighters who were driving the vehicle had been hit with stones when they were transporting a patient home. The stones were hurled by a group of six to seven people.

23 arrested in one week for property crimes

Twenty-three people were arrested last week, following several operations carried out by the Public Security Police (PSP) in the fight against crime for property crimes, namely thefts in various locations.

“Following the actions carried out by the Public Security Police in the fight against crime for property crimes (thefts in residence, thefts in commercial establishments and thefts of vehicles and from the interior of vehicles), from the 5th to the 12th of October, several operations were carried out, resulting in a total of 23 arrests “, can be read in a statement sent by PSP.

On average, three daily arrests were made by the security force, according to the statement released.

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PSP closes establishment in Coimbra with 75 people, “most without a mask”