Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 15^th February 2023

Good morning – On Monday night a total of 144 operatives from Portugal under the coordination of the ANEPC departed for Chile to assist the authorities there battling an outbreak of at least 231 forest fires which have consumed 270,000 hectares of land, have killed 26 people so far in south-central Chile and destroyed 1,100 homes and prompted the declaration of a state of emergency in three regions.

Just a few days earlier a force of 52 specialists in rescue operations and six dogs from Portugal comprising:  the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), the Emergency, Protection and Rescue Unit (UEPS) of the Republican National Guard, the Lisbon Firefighters Regiment and the National Institute of Medical Emergency, departed for Turkey to help in the search for victims, some still being found alive under the rubble. Within 36 hours of arriving they had already saved a 10 year old child.

The following words by the President of the ANEPC Duarte da Costa to me serve as an inspiration and the importance of international assistance and co-operation in responding to such catastrophes. It also illustrates the increasing capacity of Portugal and the skills of its emergency services to assist other countries, when in need.

He stated: “Portugal, through the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) undertook for the first time in its history, two Joint Forces simultaneously for two different Theatres of Operations, Turkey and Chile, each with very different operational characteristics, comprising 196 professionals of various specialties and high technical ability.

“As I previously stated, not because it helps our financial results, or our performance rating, but because with these initiatives we demonstrate that we want to help, not because we need to, but because the wellbeing of others is our wellbeing too. But also because Portugal, despite being a small country, demonstrates itself as an international partner co-producing security and actively participates in building a safer world.

And finally because we have the ability to do so. And this ability is built on a day-to-day basis with the intense work of all who in ANEPC and in the most diverse civil protection agents, with this effort, assert themselves as agents of change for the safety of all, near and beyond borders”.

We wish all those who have been deployed on these dangerous missions a safe return.

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and the PSP published some disturbing figures concerning the level of reports they had dealt with concerning dating violence. Complaints of dating violence registered by the PSP have increased by 10% in five years, receiving more than 10,400 complaints between 2018 and 2022. They point out that this includes: physical, psychological, social, sexual and economic aspects, with such violence being be carried out through insults, threats, offenses, aggressions, humiliation, persecution or intrusion of intimacy.

Our association, Safe Communities Portugal has received several reports from victims of domestic violence and this involves both the foreign and local communities in Portugal. We work closely with APAV (Victim support association) concerning domestic violence and we have held a number of seminars on this subject including one for vulnerable groups last year. It is important that to be aware of the signs and to seek help in these situations. If you need help or know someone who does, APAV is available for support, through its various services, namely the Victim Support Line 116 006 – weekdays, from 08h00 to 22h00 – free and confidential number.

Lastly our team at Safe Communities wishes you all the best for the week ahead and a special message to those in the Portuguese civil protection forces on deployment to Turkey and Chile. We wish you a safe return. 

News

GNR registered 1,421 crimes of dating violence in 2022

Lisbon, Feb 14, 2022 (Lusa) – The GNR recorded 1,421 crimes of dating violence in 2022, 28.5% more than in 2021, reveal data from that security force, according to which 17% of the registered cases are related to minors of 25 years.

In a statement to mark Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated today, the National Republican Guard (GNR) says that in 2022, in the area of ​​its responsibility, 1,421 crimes of dating violence were recorded in all age groups, specifying that 244 of victims were aged up to 24 years.

In 2021, 1,105 crimes of dating violence were recorded in all age groups, with 332 victims aged up to 24 years old.

During this week, the GNR is developing the awareness and prevention campaign #NãoTeCales, which aims to encourage all young people to denounce and not accept any type of psychological, emotional, physical, social or sexual violence.

The campaign aims to raise awareness among young people so that they say no to violence and so that they can stop this type of behaviour, both for themselves and for others, reads the statement.

“It is important to alert young people to the importance of healthy relationships, based on principles and values ​​such as self-esteem, respect and tolerance, which are pillars of dating relationships, promoting an anti-violence culture through greater awareness”.

According to the GNR, the impact of this type of violence at an early age can be the acceptance of this violence in the future, compromising the victims involved, their families and society as a whole.

The Public Security Police (PSP) also announced today, regarding Valentine’s Day, that it had registered 2,109 complaints of dating violence in 2022, which represented an increase of 10% in five years.

The PSP states that, between 2018 and 2022, it received 10,480 complaints of dating violence, with the majority of victims being women.

According to the PSP, in 2018 1,920 complaints were registered, the following year 2,185, in 2020 they decreased to 2,051, rising again in 2021 to 2,215 and, last year, the complaints dropped again, registering 2,109.

The police point out that dating violence takes on physical, psychological, social, sexual and economic aspects and this violence can be carried out through insults, threats, offenses, aggressions, humiliation, persecution or intrusion of intimacy.

The PSP calls for victims, as well as the people closest to them, to be aware of signs of constant pressure, such as isolation from family and friends due to the aggressor’s will.

To mark Valentine’s Day, PSP is carrying out, between today and February 18, an awareness-raising and information operation in schools on the prevention of domestic violence, namely dating violence, being an initiative aimed at young people between 13 and 18 years old.

Azores – Dogs from the kennel becoming medical alert dogs

Dogs from the Intermunicipal Kennel will be selected and trained to help people with diabetes.

Around nine dogs from the Terceira Island Intermunicipal Kennel are undergoing selection tests to be trained and join the Pata D’Açúcar 2023 Program.

The objective is to help more people with diabetes and also to improve the well-being of animals that have been abandoned, turning them into medical alert dogs.

This is a protocol between the Municipality of Angra do Heroísmo and the Pata D’Açúcar Association.

Pata d’Açucar association – “Because life is made of new opportunities, by rescuing dogs from shelters for abandoned animals and preparing them to become Medical Alert Dogs, we give a new direction to the lives of these animals by helping to improve the quality of life of people with diabetes.

Valentine’s Day makeup: Banksy’s new work warns of domestic violence

A new artwork by British artist Banksy has appeared this Tuesday February 14, Valentine’s Day, on a wall in Margate, Kent. Confirmation of authenticity was made, as usual, by the mysterious artist on his website and Instagram.

The artwork titled “Valentine’s day mascara” – free translation, “Valentine’s Day makeup” – shows a woman with a visibly hurt face. On Instagram, Banksy purposely posts three photographs of the mural, each one taking a closer look at the face so you can see the injuries.

Taking advantage of an abandoned freezer next to the building, Banksy painted a man’s legs, giving the illusion that the mistreated woman had taken revenge on her husband, placing him inside the chest.

According to British media, the building is located in Margate, Kent.

Banksy, whose identity remains a mystery, began spray-painting trains and walls in his hometown of Bristol in the 1990s, and soon left his artistic mark all over the world.