More than 12,000 weapons and accessories and close to 16,000 personal protective equipment have been delivered to PSP, GNR and SEF since 2017, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) announced today.

On the day that elements of the PSP and GNR carry out protests simultaneously in Braga, Lisbon and Faro, the Ministry of Internal Administration took stock of the Law of Programming of Infrastructures and Equipment for the Forces and Security Service of MAI since 2017.

In a note sent to the Lusa agency, MAI said that since 2017, 12,279 weapons and accessories have been delivered to the GNR, PSP and SEF, of which 1,438 glock pistols and 919 extendable sticks, and it is also expected to receive 3,481 weapons and accessories, including 2,230  pepper gas sprays between this year and 2021.

The MAI also notes that the Law on the Programming of Security Forces and Services allowed the delivery of 3,179 ballistic protection vests and 1,590 helmets, as well as 11,513 other personal protective equipment such as belts and tactical gloves, with 1,115 batons being delivered this year.

The Ministry of Internal Administration points out that “investment in equipment for specialized functions” was also reinforced when 290 alcohol meters were delivered since 2017 and another 359 are planned for 2020.

According to the MAI, the criminal investigation received 319 pieces of equipment.

“The renewal of the automobile fleet of security forces and services has been a priority for MAI”, the note states, noting that around 1,000 vehicles were delivered, including 311 for patrolling, 308 for road enforcement and 137 for criminal investigation .

MAI says that about 600 vehicles will be delivered this year.

The Ministry of Internal Administration also indicates that the focus on preventing and fighting fires resulted in the delivery of 9,450 forestry intervention equipment to GNR, such as suits, gloves, boots and goggles.

This MAI balance comes also after the challenge to the statements of Minister Eduardo Cabrita, who, in an interview with Diário de Notícias and TSF, assured that the police “do not need” to buy personal protective equipment from their own pocket