Our guest today is David Thomas of Safe Communities Portugal (SCP), who shares with us the origins of this hugely helpful civic protection service that has grown steadily over the years to become a principal source of safety awareness in the country.
Safe Communities Portugal is an operating name of Associação SCP Safe Communities Portugal, the country’s only registered national non-profit association providing a ‘one stop shop’ of crime prevention and public information concerning security and safety.
As a volunteer-run public service organisation, their services and information are available free of charge to all members of the community. No membership is necessary to receive this.
The aim of SCP is to promote safer communities, enhance security awareness and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime. It does this through a number of specific objectives covering police/public engagement; communication and awareness; as well as public support in the fight against crime and promoting civil protection awareness.
SCP promotes community policing by engaging the police and the community, as well as stimulating citizens’ own responsibilities in cooperating with the police, in order to reduce overall crime and the fear of crime. This helps keep neighbourhoods safe and improves the quality of life for everyone.
For residents living in, or persons visiting certain regions in Portugal, SCP has created specific “safe communities”, detailing the services it provides in those areas. To date these are: Safe Communities Algarve, Safe Communities Lisbon and Safe Communities Madeira.
SCP works closely with the Ministry of Internal Administration, GNR, PSP, Judicial Police, SEF, ANEPC, ASAE, ICNF, and Turismo de Portugal, the municipalities, various Embassies and many other authorities in helping to keep Portugal a safe place to live and visit.
Mission: The mission of Safe Communities Portugal is to promote safer communities, enhance public safety and security awareness and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of disasters or crime.
