The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 17th May 2023
by Mike Evans
Good afternoon to you all. With the Fire season in just its second week, there were a total of 38 fires in the Algarve and Lower Alentejo which meant the number of personnel involved was almost 800 firefighters. In addition 341 vehicles were used as well as 4 air support appliances. The Municipality with the most fires was Loule with a total of 7 during the last week. Obviously with the high winds we are seeing in the past few days and the very dry ground it is important for us all to remain vigilant and to report any smoke or flame you may see whilst out and about. If you see a fire RING 112 A false alarm is better than no alarm. My thanks to the Associação Alerta de incêndio Florestal for these stats. Now a look at some of the other news from around the region.
Head of the SEF regional delegation in Albufeira accused of corruption
Faro’s Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP), brought charges against the head of the regional delegation of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) in Albufeira, and against two foreign men, accusing the SEF employee of two crimes of passive corruption and to each of the foreigners a crime of active corruption, according to a statement released today.
“In June 2018, outside office hours, in his office, the head of the SEF delegation received from the 44-year-old defendant a sum of money to schedule and facilitate the process of obtaining a residence permit for his wife”, details Faro District Attorney’s Office in a statement. In addition to this episode, “in July 2018, in his office and outside the office hours of the SEF delegation, the SEF employee received the amount of 200 euros from the 24-year-old defendant, to schedule his process with priority. residence permit”, continues the note.
According to the authorities, “the monetary amounts handed over were independent of the fees, fines and fees due for the residence permit processes and were pocketed by the defendant for his own benefit”.
The investigation was led by members of the Southern Directorate of the Judiciary Police .
Suspect Arrested for Attempted Murder and Possession of Prohibited Weapon
The Judiciary Police, through the Portimão DIC, in compliance with an arrest warrant issued by the Public Ministry of Lagos, identified and detained a man for the presumed authorship of a crime of attempted homicide and possession of a prohibited weapon, committed on January 8 , in Lagos, as a result of a reckoning, was communicated today by the PJ .
The detainee acted in material co-authorship together with another individual, already detained on March 29 by the Judiciary Police Portimão DIC.
“After previously agreeing on a place and time, the victims, with the aim of acquiring a narcotic product, went to a secluded place in the Lagos area”, describes the PJ in a statement. Already at the scene, one of the detainees, “armed with a shotgun, fired a shot into the interior of the vehicle where those were circulating, hitting one of them in the torso, arm and face, not causing his death by mere chance”, continues the note. Although seriously injured, the PJ reports that “the victim managed to leave the scene quickly at the wheel of the vehicle, heading to a hospital unit where he was assisted”.
The 41-year-old detainee, bartender, will be present at the first judicial interrogation for the application of coercive measures deemed appropriate. The Inquiry is conducted by the Lagos Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Eleven People Arrested Over the Weekend In Albufeira
Eleven people were detained during a set of policing and crime -fighting actions carried out by the National Republican Guard (GNR) over the weekend in Albufeira , announced the security force.
The arrests of people aged between 22 and 60 were carried out by the Territorial Command of Faro, through the Territorial Detachment of Albufeira.
After inspections at various locations in the municipality, six people were arrested for drug trafficking, four for driving under the influence of alcohol and one for driving without a legal license.150 doses of cocaine, 31 pills of ecstasy, 12 doses of marijuana, 115 euros in cash and a bottle of nitrous oxide were also seized.
An inspection operation was also carried out at establishments selling miscellaneous items, which resulted in the seizure of 13 prohibited weapons known as “karambit” knives, with a 29-year-old man being accused.
The GNR military also complied with a house search warrant that resulted in the seizure of new compressed air weapons and an alarm revolver, with a 69-year-old man being accused.
The facts were communicated to the Judicial Court of Albufeira.
Two Arrested for Stealing a Boat in Cabanas de Tavira
Two men were arrested on Saturday morning, May 13, for allegedly stealing a maritime-tourist vessel in Ribeira do Almargem , in Cabanas de Tavira , announced the National Maritime Authority.
The alert was given by a member of the public who was in the vicinity, and elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Tavira were immediately activated, who, when they arrived in the area, saw the crew fleeing.
The fugitives managed to get out of the vessel, having been requested to support elements of the National Republican Guard of Tavira, who intercepted and detained them.The two men were constituted defendants and notified to appear in court.
The Tavira Maritime Police Local Command took care of the occurrence.
Installation of 42 Surveillance Cameras To Reinforce Security at Vilamoura Marina
The Câmara de Loulé will install 42 surveillance cameras in Vilamoura Marina and accesses to increase the security of thousands of people walking in the area, especially in summer.
“The installation of this electronic surveillance device, respecting the legal framework, will be an auxiliary means to increase the perception of safety throughout the Vilamoura Marina area and surrounding area”, said the mayor, Vítor Aleixo.
On May 13, in Quarteira, the Loulé Council signed a protocol with the GNR that provides for “the implementation, activation and management of the video surveillance system” in these public places, within the scope of the first phase of a public tender that foresees an investment of 900 thousand euros.
Vítor Aleixo assured that Vilamoura Marina “is not a risk zone” and insisted that the cameras installed in the public space will “increase the feeling and perception of safety on the part of thousands of people who, during the summer in the zone”. The mayor defended that video surveillance will “complement” the human presence of the GNR military, which would be the “ideal” solution and with an “irreplaceable value”.
According to Vítor Aleixo, in a second phase of this project, the video surveillance system will be extended to the riverside area of the city of Quarteira. The signing of the protocol between the municipality and the GNR was carried out as part of the celebrations, which took place on the 13th, Quarteira day, with, among other events, also inaugurating the Sociocultural Building, which will host training actions and protocols with various local entities and association.
American Woman Falls While Climbing Along Coast near Vila Do Bispo
On the afternoon of Sunday, May 14, the crew of the Sagres Lifesaving Station rescued a 38-year-old American woman who had fallen while climbing with a group of friends, between Praia do Beliche and Ponta of Cabo de São Vicente, in the municipality of Vila do Bispo .
Following an alert received around 4 pm, via the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Lisboa), crew members from the Sagres Lifeguard Station and members of the Maritime Police Local Command went to the location. from Lagos.
Upon arrival at the scene, the crew of the Salva-Vidas Station found that the victim, a 38-year-old woman of US nationality, was in a difficult-to-access location and had rescued her using a boat. At Porto da Baleeira, there was already an ambulance from INEM, which later transported the victim to a hospital unit.
Four Men Arrested for Copper Theft in Silves
Four men aged between 20 and 39 were arrested on Tuesday, May 9, for theft of copper in the municipality of Silves , announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).
The arrest was made by the Faro Territorial Command , through the Silves and Faro Criminal Investigation Nucleus, as part of an investigation. After several police investigations, it was possible to determine the identity of the four suspects who stole about four tons of copper and various materials from the interior of residences. After carrying out two searches, one at home and another in a vehicle, 301 kilos of copper, a vehicle, and various tools used in the thefts were seized.
The detainees were present at the Judicial Court of Portimão, for the application of coercive measures. This action was reinforced by the Faro Intervention and Criminal Investigation Detachment.
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