British expat David Thomas, founder of Safe Communities Portugal, told The Portugal News the signing is “a very important step forward”.
The association was established in 2011 by the crime prevention expert, a former Interpol and UN consultant and assistant commissioner to the Hong Kong police.
Among the measures agreed in the protocol, signed by David Thomas and the Assistant State Secretary for Homes Affairs Isabel Oneto, were the further development of the Safe Communities Portugal website to provide more information to foreign tourists in the Algarve; the production and distribution of leaflets, along with other informative materials on crime prevention; and the organisation of talks on a number of related topics.
Speaking to newspaper Sul Informação, Assistant State Secretary Isabel Oneto said the objective “is to have entities that are regionally integrated and that help us with [crime] prevention and safety policies”.
“What we ask of the association, which has a strong implementation with the foreign community, not only the residents in the Algarve, but also those who visit us, is that they use their website to give advice to tourists and to foreign residents”, she elaborated.
In comments to The Portugal News, Mr. Thomas remarked: “This protocol is a very important step forward as it clearly demonstrates the importance by central government in ensuring that the Algarve is a safe place for tourists as well as all residents.
“This is our first protocol with a ministry, which enables us direct dialogue on the formulation of ideas and further initiatives, based on the needs of the foreign community and tourists alike. It will also enable us to focus in a more comprehensive way, on providing advice, taking into account different cultures and languages of visitors, to ensure understanding and awareness.”
For more, see: www.safecommunitiesportugal.com.