The Portuguese government has approved the purchase of around 8,000 body-worn cameras for the country’s police forces, committing more than €6 million to equip officers from the PSP and GNR.
Speaking after the Council of Minister meeting this Thursday, the Minister of the Presidency said the cameras “can make a huge difference” in fighting crime by providing additional evidence and making police action more effective.
“Bodycams protect security forces by ensuring that threats are recorded, and they also reinforce public safety, because citizens know that all conduct is being filmed,” António Leitão Amaro told reporters.
The measure has been in the pipeline for years. The public tender for the bodycam management platform was first launched in April 2023, under the previous PS Socialist-led government, and envisaged the phased acquisition of around 10,000 bodycams by 2026, with an overall investment of €5 million. The process was twice challenged in court and only cleared in January 2025, when the Supreme Administrative Court ruled in favour of the state.
In June last year, the Court of Auditors approved the contract for the digital platform that will manage the cameras. That system, supplied by NOS, was contracted by the Ministry of Internal Administration in March 2025 for a period of 36 months, at a cost of more than €1 million.
Jornal de Notícias reports the bodycams could be delivered to the government this year, though when they will start being used by officers has not been confirmed.
Bodycams are used by police forces all around the world, from major countries such as the United Kingdom in Europe to Australia and the United States of America.
