Overview

GNR Loulé is one of the largest divisions in terms of population under the GNR Faro District Territorial Command. Its central position in the Algarve has attracted many people from overseas to live. The previous Commander Paulo César Brito dos Santos, Major de Cavalaria, transferred out in early August 2018 and the current Commander is Captain Daniel de Moura Pedro Ferreira.

It comprises a number of units within the Divisional Headquarters as well as four land subdivisions of Quarteira, Vilamoura, Salir and Almancil. These sub divisions are responsible for mobile and foot patrols in their areas.

The division comprises a diverse community with many foreigners living in Loulé municipality, including Boliqueime to the west. In was in this area that the GNR Safe Resident Programme was formed in January 2010, in response to serious crime in the form of residential robberies. Since then crime has decreased considerably and the crime level is the lowest for many years.

Towards the north there are many traditional villages including Salir and Alte. In the south, there are the luxury residential developments of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Logo. The policing challenges and crime prevention are diverse, dealing with the elderly living in isolated areas, through the Safe Elderly Programme, as well as the large influx of tourists in the summer months in areas such as Vilamoura and Loulé.

Loulé GNR division has the largest number of properties registered with the Safe Residents program for any division in Portugal. As most of these were developed on a village by village basis this has resulted in these taking on the form of “neighbourhood watch” ,compared with other SRP s in the Algarve, except to some extent Faro Division.

Apart from the Safe Elderly and Safe Residence Programmes, the Special Programs unit covers Safe Commerce and the Schools Programme. The latter is particular actives with a large number of schools in the area. GNR militates from the unit regularly visit schools presenting advice to children including the safe use of the internet.

One of their main responsibilities is environmental policing through the SEPNA unit. Those wishing to report animal cruelty can contact SEPNA using the contact details for the Division.

Another headquarters unit (NIC) undertakes investigations within their areas of responsibility. More serious cases are investigated at District level in Faro and cases where large amounts of drugs are involved or firearms are usually passed to the Judicial Police. The unit has had some major successes particular as regards to property crime and drug trafficking.

Apart from daily police activities, the Division undertakes the policing of major events in particular the White Nights festival, and the Carnival usually held in February. The latter is the largest in the Algarve and brings many people to the area both locally and from other areas of the Algarve.

GNR Loulé and Safe Communities Algarve have worked closely together since the latter was formed in 2012. There have been around 15 joint seminars and displays covering topics ranging from pet cruelty, cybercrime, crime prevention and civil protection inc forest fires. SCA meets regularly with the GNR Loulé Commander and the Safe Residence team to exchange information and develop various activities.