It was the first time that the AIRC had sponsored a GNR officer to spend time with a police force in the UK.
Frederico (Freddie) Fragoso was recommended by AIRC Chair of Community Services, Peter Hinze, to represent his unit at the Loulé GNR station and spend four days with Heddlu Gwent (Gwent Police) in Wales, staying with Gaynor and Colin Hart in Nelson, a small town in the Rhymney Valley.
Colin is a retired Police Officer and Gaynor is a serving Detective Sergeant.
Freddie was a member of the GNR Loulé team that was instrumental in setting up a pioneering house-numbering scheme in two villages in the Loulé area; a scheme which has since been adopted throughout the Algarve and beyond.
“I believe Freddie to be an exemplary officer”, said Peter Hinze, who added: “Nothing has ever been too much trouble for him and he was invaluable when it came to setting up the house numbering scheme.”
During his time with the Gwent force, Freddie went on regular patrols, visited the holding cells and observed officers dealing with members of the public. “We hope to arrange a reciprocal visit to Loulé, with a member of the Gwent Police force in the near future”, said AIRC President, Hermes Alberto.
Freddie will be making a PowerPoint Presentation to members of AIRC, their guests and local Police and Câmara officers on Wednesday 3 May at a Rotary dinner to be held at the Conrad Hotel Quinta do Lago. Guests are welcome with prior notice.
For further details, email: peter@rotaryalmancil.org