DRUG TRAFFICKING and related crime in Lisbon’s Bairro Alto is falling thanks to a decision by local traders to foot the bill for more police patrolling.
Since the beginning of August, local traders and bar owners have had to fork out an extra 120 euros each per month to pay for the extra policing.
Bar, restaurant and shop owners in the city’s busy historic tourist area agree that their decision to finance more policemen on the streets is paying dividends and making the streets safer.
One month after night-time patrolling was stepped up in the neighbourhood, restaurant owner Floriano Moreira told the Lusa news agency that it was “worthwhile having more police which had immediate effects”.
“The results really have been positive, and I’m only sorry that it had to wait until we took the initiative,” he said, adding that all the local businesses paid their taxes and had a right to protection.
The restaurant owner also said that local traders shouldn’t have to foot the bill for increased policing, rather that it should be paid for by government institutions.
Pressure group
Floriano Moreira is one of many bar, restaurant and shop owners that got together with the stated aim of making Lisbon nightlife in Bairro Alto safer and securer.
“I think it was an excellent measure because, for the very first time, local traders got together and spoke up in one voice and created a pressure group, something that doesn’t happen very often in Portugal because the Portuguese are very individualistic,” said Pedro Ramalho, a bar owner in Rua do Diário de Notícias.
Pedro Ramalho also agrees that the results are evident and positive. “Now we’ve got nine extra policemen patrolling the area at night, and compared with the problems we used to have, there’s a big difference.”
But local residents say they wouldn’t foot the bill and fork out that kind of money to keep the streets safer.
“Up to midnight you see the odd policeman going by but beyond that their presence is rare,” claimed Maria da Silver Muller, who added that often the police were “usually in patrol cars, didn’t get out and did absolutely nothing.”
“I feel that there is a slight increase in police presence but it still isn’t enough and I certainly don’t feel any safer,” said another resident who also complained of the constant noise at night.
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