In a new letter sent to the Minister of Internal Administration, Maria Lúcia Amaral, to which Lusa had access, Carlos Moedas informs that the Lisbon Municipal Police (PML) currently has a “total of 390 police officers available,” a number that will decrease in the coming months and years “due to the rate of retirements of officers in service or the end of their service term.”

According to the mayor, in 2018 the PML had 582 police officers and the “33% drop in the number of personnel is completely disproportionate to the recruitment difficulties at the PSP level.” Carlos Moedas points out that, during the same period, the number of personnel in the Lisbon Metropolitan Command (Cometlis) of the PSP (Public Security Police) only saw a reduction of "just 4%".

Given that this issue has been raised on several occasions, the Social Democrat again appeals to the Minister for an "immediate and urgent reinforcement, opening a procedure to provide 100 personnel (four officers and 96 agents, preferably with a minimum age of 35) for the PML's (Lisbon Metropolitan Police) police force".

By law, he adds, the PML requires "a total of 700 personnel", a number far from the current number.

Last June, when the new government took office, Carlos Moedas sent a letter to Maria Lúcia Amaral requesting a meeting to discuss measures to provide humane policing and strengthen security resources in Lisbon.

At the time, the mayor alluded to the “situation of insecurity and violence experienced in the city in recent times” to justify the urgent request for the meeting, in order to find “measures with immediate effects that can effectively address the problems.”

Community policing

The mayor has also warned of the importance of community policing in the city, noting an increase in the perception of crime, as well as the need for reinforcements to the PSP (Public Security Police) and the granting of more powers to the Municipal Police.

After an initial meeting with the Minister of Internal Administration in July, Carlos Moedas informed journalists that a specific security plan for the city would be drawn up jointly, and there is still no date for its implementation.

On that occasion, the mayor said that an “acceleration” of video surveillance in the municipality was also discussed, mentioning the existence of 32 cameras in Cais do Sodré and another 30 in Campo das Cebolas that were “just waiting for a connection.”

Carlos Moedas even asked the former Minister of Internal Administration to install video surveillance in areas of the city such as Martim Moniz, Mouraria, Arroios, São Domingos de Benfica and Avenida da Liberdade.

Lisbon currently has 64 video surveillance cameras.