The handover of the kit, which is being issued under a law approved last year, was marked on Monday with a ceremony in Santarém to be attended by Minister Eduardo Cabrita.
According to ministry officials, the equipment distributed to PSP commanders is made up of high-visibility jackets and individual protection suits for use by members of the force’s prevention and immediate reaction teams.
The 2017 law in question foresees total spending of €1 million on this first round of individual protection equipment for the PSP, National Republican Guard (GNR) and Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF). It also foresees a further separate investment this year of €1.5 million for the same purpose, officials note.
According to the ministry, the spending constitutes “the biggest investment in the last six years in this sector”.