The government’s focus on ‘applying the rules’ to immigration has seen authorities screen 2,228 immigrants over a three day period – finding that 30 of them were in the country illegally.
In a statement, the SSI (Internal Security Service) reports that between November 26 and 29, the “Portugal Sempre Seguro” (Portugal Always Safe) operation – which brings together various police forces and state entities – inspected 4,978 people in all, more than 1,550 vehicles, nine vessels, and 195 establishments.
As part of the operations carried out, 25 people were arrested, more than half for road traffic offences (mostly for driving under the influence of alcohol), and 24 crimes were recorded – more than half for road traffic offences.
The authorities involved in the operations also recorded 528 infractions, 64% of which were road traffic violations, including 20% related to alcohol.
Over 40 operations were carried out on the mainland and in the autonomous regions, involving the GNR (National Republican Guard), PSP (Public Security Police), Polícia Judiciária (Judicial Police), Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica (ASAE – Food and Economic Security Authority), Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (AT – Tax and Customs Authority) and Autoridade para as Condições do Trabalho (ACT – Authority for Working Conditions), involving 875 personnel, supported by 226 vehicles and 11 canine teams (teams consisting of a police officer and a dog).
Taking place for already the second time this year, the Portugal Always Safe focus is on “strengthening public safety, preventing crimes and deterring risky behavior, with special attention to road traffic enforcement and establishments, particularly nightlife and restaurant venues”. Last year, however, the final results of the operation were not disclosed, leading to left-wing parties suggesting that the thrust of the initiative was solely to detect undocumented immigrants.
Today’s provisional data released by SSI is clearly designed to refute this criticism.
Source: LUSA
