Surge in crime in historic downtown area requires action, petition says
A surge in crime in Lisbon’s historic downtown Baixa Pombalina district has led to growing calls for more effective security measures, including increased CCTV video surveillance.
The Association for the Promotion of Lisbon’s Downtown (ADBP) has presented a petition signed by over 100 residents, traders, and visitors urging action to address rising concerns over theft and insecurity.
The Baixa Pombalina district is Lisbon’s popular downtown area, named after the Marquis of Pombal, who led the country at the time of the 1755 earthquake in Lisbon and the subsequent recovery and rebuilding of the neighbourhood, Lusa news agency explains.
Despite its bustling nature, the area has recently seen a “growing sense of insecurity,” petitioners state, due to “constant robberies and thefts.” This is why they believe “the installation of surveillance cameras monitored by the police, as well as the intensification of regular patrols by the authorities, is urgently needed”.
Vasco de Mello, vice-president of the ADBP, defended the petition’s goals at the 8th standing committee (Mobility, Transport and Security) of the Lisbon city council.
While the petition currently only covers the area of Portas de Santo Antão, the vice-president of the association believes the coverage area should be extended to Largo de São Domingos and Largo do Regedor, areas where tourists are frequently targeted.
Video surveillance in Lisbon has been a contentious issue for two decades, often stalled by data protection concerns. However, advocates argue that cameras would not only deter crime but also aid police in identifying offenders. “Without video surveillance, Mello argued, police patrols alone may not suffice to put a damper on crime given the shortage of police resources.
The head of the Santa Maria Maior Council, Miguel Coelho, echoed these sentiments, pointing to the shortage of police personnel and the potential of video surveillance to bolster public safety. “This isn’t just for tourists,” he said, adding that it’s about ensuring security for residents as well”.
In response, Lisbon’s city council expressed its willingness to expand video surveillance based on police evaluations. Currently, the city operates 34 surveillance cameras, primarily in Bairro Alto and the Miradouro de Santa Catarina. The council plans to install an additional 99 cameras by August 2025 in key areas such as Cais do Sodré, Campo das Cebolas, Restauradores, and Ribeira das Naus.
Longer-term plans include a second phase, which will add 117 cameras across 11 locations, including Praça do Comércio, Rua Augusta, and Santa Apolónia. By the end of the current mandate, Lisbon aims to have 249 video surveillance cameras citywide, an increase from the original target of 242.
Several towns in the Algarve region, from Faro to Portimão, have also installed CCTV cameras in an attempt to prevent crime and identify culprits when it happens.
Source: LUSA
