The latest data of the annual report on internal security (Rasi) are clear: violent and serious crime continues to grow in Portugal. Attack thefts, residence robberies and commercial establishments, violations, increased last year. In fact, the number of violations has reached the highest value of the last decade.
By Diogo Fernandes Sousa *
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If we only look at the general crime statistics, we could think that Portugal is safer, since there was a 5% reduction in the total number of criminal apparitions. However, this reading is deceptive. The decrease in general crime can be evident, deriving from a lower police action on the field, not from a real improvement in security in the country.
In the first months of 2024, the security forces had to face a period of demotivation and protests, claiming better wages and working conditions. During this period, the police were less proactive in crime prevention. If the security forces were operated in full capacity throughout the year, the general crime numbers had been higher had been higher, denying the idea that Portugal became a safer country.
But the most worrying is the perception of housing, which continues to grow among citizens. Every day the news comes from serious crimes, fueling a feeling of vulnerability. And this fear is not based exclusively on social communication: the true increase in violent crime and theft and theft crimes leads to this increasingly Portuguese. When the robberies become common and roads seem less safe, citizens lose confidence in the judicial system.
What we can do to reverse this data is to strengthen the proximity police, guaranteeing a more visible and continuous presence of security forces in the streets, public transport and in the most vulnerable areas. In addition, a greater investment in the police media is required, both in terms of human resources and equipment, so that they can act more effectively and safely.
Another measure is the hardening of the sanctions for certain crimes and for those who are repeatedly condemned for crimes, in order to ensure that impunity does not continue to exist. The sense of impunity is one of the factors that most contribute to increasing crime and only permissive justice aggravates only the situation.
Finally, it is essential to take public safety as a national priority. The fight against crime cannot be only a statistical question analyzed once a year. It must be a constant policy because if nothing is done, the crime will continue to grow and the perception of insurviousness will be aggravated further.
* Writer of the book “Direction of the Nation: Reflection on Portuguese”. Professor at the Jean Piaget Polytechnic Institute.
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