Force has 10 officers, with plans to grow its team to 30
Faro’s new municipal police force is now officially on duty. The new force began operations on Tuesday, with the opening of its headquarters in the former Chocolate café building at Praça da Liberdade (Pontinha).
Starting out with 10 officers, the municipal police will focus on visible, community-based policing across the entire municipality – including its islands – with a mission to boost safety and support local well-being.
In this early phase, the force will operate on a limited schedule, but the goal is to eventually move to full-time, 24/7 coverage, once more staff are hired.
Working closely with the PSP and GNR, Faro’s municipal police will focus on monitoring public events, patrolling schools and businesses, and offering protection to vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. Over time, they’ll take on additional responsibilities such as traffic enforcement and local regulation checks, the municipal council says in a statement to the press.
To meet those goals, the council has launched an external recruitment process to bring in new officers, aiming to grow the team to 30 agents. New recruits are expected to begin training this summer.
Council officials have hailed the launch of the new police force, saying it will help tackle matters of security in the borough and help make Faro “more organised and safe.”
