Mayor calls for stronger police presence, vowing Portimão will “never be a place of impunity”
A video of a man being chased and brutally assaulted by a group of men at Portimão’s Praia da Rocha tourist hotspot last Thursday (May 22) has made the rounds on social media, prompting local leaders to call for action.
Mayor Álvaro Bila has addressed the incident, condemning it as “deeply regrettable.”
“The footage circulating on social media, showing a violent brawl in which a citizen is cowardly attacked, is disturbing and demands action that is as serious as the situation requires,” the mayor said in a statement.
“Public safety is a right that the State must guarantee,” the mayor stated, adding that he will request a meeting as soon as the new government takes office to personally express his concern.
“We cannot allow Portimão’s image – as a safe, welcoming, and diverse city – to be stained by isolated acts of violence,” Bila stated.
“Our residents, businessowners and visitors must feel protected,” the mayor added, calling for a stronger police presence in the borough, particularly busier areas like Praia da Rocha.
“We are on the side of citizens and the victims of this situation, and we will follow the investigation closely,” he said, declaring that Portimão will “never be a place of impunity.”
“We hope that the CCTV footage will help identify the attackers quickly,” he concluded.
The attack comes at a time when local residents and tourists are raising the alarm over a growing number of drug dealers approaching people in Praia da Rocha, even in broad daylight, with apparent impunity.
Meanwhile, the incident has also sparked reactions from other political leaders. Carlos Gouveia Martins, PSD candidate for the local council, is pushing for the creation of a municipal police force, claiming its time for local leadership to act instead of waiting for action from central powers in Lisbon.
“This isn’t about replacing the PSP,” the local opposition leader said, defending that a municipal police force would help with boosting on-the-ground safety in public spaces, schools and neighbourhoods.
The local delegation of far-right party CHEGA has also reacted to the incident, describing it as “absolutely unacceptable”.
Describing the attackers as a group of “Roman gypsy ethnicity”, CHEGA Portimão says that the “law must be applied equally on everyone, no matter the origin of the attackers”.
“Nobody is above the law in Portugal. Whoever attacks, disrespects authorities or puts the safety of other citizens in risk must be held accountable – without exceptions or favouritisms,” the party insists.
