According to the Jornal de Notícias (JN), Portugal already has 1,500 surveillance cameras installed across the country's streets, and the Government has received 60 additional requests from municipalities to install more cameras.

The investment in video surveillance cameras is not limited to urban centres. In municipalities with smaller populations, video surveillance has been used to prevent vandalism, protect public spaces, and ensure residents continue to feel safe.

According to the same news outlet, CCTV images have served as evidence in criminal cases. However, security experts say that installing video surveillance cameras in areas considered more problematic may only shift crime to another location.

Expansion in metropolitan areas

The municipality of Lisbon wants to double the number of cameras in the city. Currently, the capital of Portugal has 96 devices installed, with 40 more about to be installed. Even so, Lisbon aims to install 251 devices in the city.

In Porto, there are already 79 cameras, with another 117 added. The municipality also revealed that it wants to expand video surveillance to the western and eastern areas of the city and to Ramalde, where 50 more CCTV devices are planned.

In Viseu

In the city of Viseu, the expansion of these services is evident. Currently, the city of Viseu has 44 cameras spread between the Aquilino Ribeiro Park and the 21 de Agosto Market. Over the course of four years, the municipality intends to invest €3 million. In addition to increasing video surveillance, the municipality intends to strengthen the Municipal Police.

Numbers on the rise

Currently, 25 towns and cities in Portugal have street video surveillance systems. In two years, the number of approved cameras has risen from 1,000 to 1,500. To install this equipment, authorisation from the Ministry of Internal Administration is required, following an opinion from the National Data Protection Commission. Depending on the area where the cameras are installed, their responsibility may fall to the GNR (National Republican Guard) or PSP (Public Security Police). Currently, 60 processes are underway.

The ongoing requests, in addition to the most populous municipalities such as Lisbon, Cascais, Vila Real, Maia, Matosinhos and Braga, also concern municipalities with smaller populations such as Anadia, Campo Maior, Coruche, Ferreira do Zêzere and Porto de Mós, reveals Executive Digest.