Police to be reinforced in Portugal

The document, which outlines the responsibilities, organisational structure, and operational framework of the new police force that reports to the Mayor, states that the municipality will hire officers in stages. They will employ various patrol models tailored to each of the municipality’s five civil parishes (freguesias).

Key duties of the Municipal Police include enforcing speed limits and parking regulations, monitoring public spaces, areas around schools, and local public transport. They will carry out these tasks through both foot and motorised patrols, in coordination with other security forces.

The new Setúbal Municipal Police will also protect municipal assets and enforce urban planning and environmental regulations. They will have the authority to issue administrative offence notices, inspect construction projects, and ensure the execution of municipal administrative decisions, including demolition orders.

“It is the duty of the Municipal Police, within its jurisdiction, to oversee compliance with laws and regulations governing matters that fall under the municipality’s mandate and the authority of its governing bodies, as well as any other duties assigned by law,” the document states, detailing a broad range of functions for the new force.

The Setúbal City Council justifies the creation of this new Municipal Police, which will be based in a repurposed building on Rua Jorge de Sousa, as a necessary response to challenges such as tourism-related pressure, illegal parking, environmental violations, and the oversight of economic activities, with a particular focus on the Arrábida beaches during the summer bathing season.

According to the Setúbal municipal authority, the economic-financial study supporting the proposal concluded that the creation of a Municipal Police force for Setúbal “is economically viable—both based on a basic analysis, which shows an 8% positive margin, and when accounting for the benefits of enhanced security (such as a reduction in accidents and crime, a decrease in illegal parking, and an improved sense of safety), which could push that margin to nearly 22%.”

The regulations stipulate that Municipal Police officers may carry firearms (with a calibre not exceeding 7.65 mm), batons, handcuffs, defensive aerosol sprays, and electric-shock weapons; however, the Municipal Police are explicitly prohibited from exercising the specific powers reserved for criminal police authorities.

The document clarifies that the Municipal Police will not replace the PSP (Public Security Police) or the GNR (National Republican Guard) in their respective roles regarding internal security and criminal investigation. Instead, by strengthening administrative oversight and community-based policing, the Municipal Police will free up these other forces to focus on combating crime.

These regulations enter into force subject to ratification by the Council of Ministers.