Safer Communities Portugal

Vaughan Willmore takes a look at the work of Safer Communities Portugal and how it’s helping to keep residents and tourists safe, and on the right side of the law.

At a time of national crisis, where do you turn for information and advice?

If the issue concerns the UK then it’s most probably BBC News. However, for those of us still wrestling with the Portuguese language, there’s no national broadcaster to guide us, which makes the work of Safer Communities Portugal (SCP) so important to so many people.

As founder, David Thomas explained, “Over the years we have become a trusted and reliable source for expatriates, partly because we only deal in facts and the reporting of official information”.

David Thomas

During the many challenges of the last few weeks, David and the team have kept in close contact with Clive Jewel, the British Vice Consul in Portimão, and key government agencies. The SCP Facebook page is typically updated four or five times a day, and a whole range of useful information aimed at helping us all to be clear about what’s expected of us, so we stay safe and how we can help others do the same.

If you need to know any or all of the following:

- How to live together at home with an infected person;

-Whether it’s a good idea to wear a mask and how to do so correctly;

- The best options for older people and people with pre-existing conditions;

- What you can do to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The SCP website is a great place to look for such information and much more.

There is also a terrific ´True or False´ section to help people debunk some the myths that typically exist on social media about the virus, and an excellent plain English guide to what constitutes an acceptable reason to journey outside of the home, for example, to buy food and medicines.

As Rotarian and Algarve resident Chris Garner recently noted: “What I really appreciate about SCP is that the information they provide is very accessible, timely and relevant and, at this time particularly, having information you can rely upon is so important”.

The origins of SCP can be traced back to when David emigrated to Portugal in 2005. Drawing upon his vast experience in policing, David was able to develop positive working relationships with local and national security agencies, and share his perspectives of good practice in crime prevention and community engagement.

Meeting with the new GNR Faro Territorial Commander (for the Algarve) Tenente - Coronel Pedro Oliveira in May 2019

It was in October 2011, and following discussions with the GNR, that David created Safer Communities Algarve as an online platform offering crime prevention information and services to the public. In the years since, it has been formally registered as a non-profit Association – the only one of its type in Portugal - and renamed Safer Communities Portugal to reflect its reach into all areas of the country. As David rightly observes, “Whilst Portugal is one of the most peaceful countries in the world, there is still crime and matters of civil protection to consider. It is so important that residents and visitors play their part in assisting the police and government agencies, and SCP helps people to do just that”.

David is joined in his work by Dina Filipe who provides valuable expertise in translation services and communications, and by Board Members Ana Silva, Raoul Ruiz Martinez, Lília Martins, Chris Stretton, James Litchko, and Marianne Guerreiro. Together the team has a vast array of experience in policing, human rights, cybersecurity, disaster management, animal welfare, and international law.

While the recent focus has understandably been on the pandemic, the SCP website is overflowing with information on a vast array of other topics. The Crime Prevention Advice page alone hosts well over seventy documents making it the most comprehensive range of crime prevention material in the region.

Whether it’s now or in the future that you’re looking for advice on reducing the risk of cybercrime, keeping children safe, missing persons, securing your home, finding a reliable security firm, or reporting a crime online, then the SCP website is the place to go. Likewise, if you’re looking for information on matters of civil protection, such as the frequent and often devastating challenge of wildfires.

By drawing on the expertise of its Board members and volunteers, SCP is helping to keep residents and tourists safe, and on the right side of the law both during the pandemic and beyond.

SCP is seeking volunteers with experience in analysis and research who understand the importance of an evidence-based approach to community safety. If you feel you can help please contact the team.

David Thomas served in the Hong Kong Police from 1974, retiring as an Assistant Commissioner in 2005 before going to work for four years as a full-time consultant to INTERPOL and the United Nations.

In central Portugal working with civil protection authorities delivering presentations to English speaking communities - June 2018

+INFO:

www.facebook.com/scalgarve

www.safecommunitiesportugal.com

info@safecommunitiesportugal.com

+351 913 045 093