Policing Faro

In an exclusive interview, Vaughan Willmore spoke with Commissioner Hugo Marado, the officer responsible for policing our region’s capital city.

Approximately 60,000 people live in the city of Faro, making it one of the most populated localities of southern Portugal. If we factor in tourism, a vibrant nightlife, a coastline, and a transportation network providing access to (and from) Lisbon and practically all areas of the Algarve it’s easy to see how Faro has everything to make it a popular place to live, and a challenging place to police.

Commissioner Hugo Marado is the man responsible for overseeing policing operations, and he’s an impressive figure. Still only in his mid-thirties, he was one of the youngest police officers in Portugal when he joined the Public Security Police (PSP) 20 years ago. Spending his first five years working at the Officer Training Academy in Lisbon, he moved to the Algarve 15 years ago.

We met early one August morning in the Commissioner’s office on Rua da Policia da Seguranca Publica, where most of his 130 staff are also based. We discussed the challenges of policing Faro and where he’s made most progress since taking office three years ago.

Firstly, however, it’s helpful to understand the role of the PSP. While there are numerous component parts to the policing family for many people, it is the PSP and the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) who are the public faces of the force. PSP officers are especially visible in their light-blue shirts, black trousers, and blue and white vehicles. It is the PSP who are responsible for policing the biggest cities.

In terms of progress, two factors figure prominently in the Commissioner's thinking. Firstly, drug trafficking. In the last few years, the PSP has overseen operations seizing huge amounts of cannabis (100kg in one operation), heroin and cocaine, successfully preventing them from reaching the city streets. The second is rough sleeping, which a few years ago was a big problem. As the Commissioner said, "While this involved less than 20 people, its impact was significant and especially in terms of the attitude to alcohol and anti-social behaviour".

The method in which these issues were addressed is symptomatic of the progressive attitude of the Commissioner. "In terms of people sleeping rough, I am pleased we dealt with this by working with partner organisations and by helping people access alternative accommodation." Likewise, that support was provided to those suffering from drug addiction, an approach which is in accordance with Portugal’s much-heralded decriminalisation and support programmes.

In terms of today’s Faro then as any visitor will testify, it is a dynamic city. This year, it has been particularly important to keep pace with how the city is changing.

As the Commissioner explained, "In most ‘normal’ years major public events like the annual International Faro Bike Meet are a big focus, with thousands of people arriving here. This year is different. With so many people staying at home, Faro has been less busy, so there has been less anti-social behaviour and low-level street crime. However, a busy city also acts as a preventative measure, deterring such things as muggings and vehicle crime".

Looking to the future, the PSP will experience another new challenge, albeit a welcome one. Thanks to city centre-based Farense FC gaining promotion to the Primeira Liga, thousands of supporters from Lisbon and elsewhere will be descending on the city on a regular basis.

As someone who worked for the police in the UK, one of the most striking aspects of living here is the high-profile presence of the police and how they’re routinely equipped with firearms. It was interesting speaking to the Commissioner that, from his perspective, the equipping of officers with weapons is so embedded as a cultural norm that it’s not really a point of discussion. It was nevertheless reassuring to hear that many officers will work throughout their careers without brandishing their firearms.

In terms of messages to the local community, Commissioner Marado said, "I want people to feel confident they can speak with officers. It’s important if you experience crime or know anything about a crime that you tell us, because only then can we do something about it."

After meeting with the Commissioner, I headed to the marina and reflected on how fortunate I feel to live in such a safe country. Undoubtedly, it’s the work of Commissioner Marado and his staff that help make Portugal such a good place to live.

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vaughanwillmore@hotmail.co.uk (Vaughan Willmore)