Police will have more pepper spray and stun guns to protect themselves from rising violence

The PSP will provide police with protective materials and less lethal weapons such as pepper spray and “tasers” due to the “increase in the intensity of violence used to commit crimes”, namely the use of bladed weapons and fire.

This week, the national director of the Public Security Police, Manuel Magina da Silva, sent out an internal message to all police officers that Lusa had access to about the security and self-protection procedures that police officers must follow in order to protect themselves due to the increase in violence.

In an internal message, Magina da Silva mentions that in order to “reduce risks for police officers who carry out their daily tasks”, the PSP will continue “the processes of acquiring protective equipment and less lethal weapons as needed.” as fast as possible”.

In this sense, the national director of this police reports that the distribution of 4,600 new aerosols (pepper spray) for defense has already begun.

According to the PSP, this pepper spray has different characteristics from those that have been common so far, since it can be “used in all environments, closed and open, selectively (without side effects other than those caused by the target) and more distance from suspects, which will increase police security.”

The National Director indicates that the distribution of 295 batteries and 1201 real charges for weapons or electrical immobilizing or stunning devices called “tasers” has also begun.

Magina da Silva also mentions that starting next year, the training of new police officers will be restructured and strengthened in the areas of physical training, police intervention techniques and self-defense measures in order to “prevent aggression against police officers and reduce risks.” bodily injury to third parties.

Magina da Silva recalls an internal message on security and self-protection procedures sent to all police officers in July 2020, believing that this information remains relevant as “we are seeing an increase in the intensity of violence used to commit serious and violent crimes, namely with the use of cold and firearms.”

Both in 2020 and in a communication sent now, the national director of the CAP lists a gradual order in which police officers may use “weapons and equipment with a low lethal potential” and “security and self-defense procedures that they must follow.” guarantee physical integrity.

National Police Union (Sinapol) President Armando Ferreira told Lusa that all tools to protect and protect police officers are welcome, recalling that the union has already warned about the absence of pepper spray among agents, namely those who have stopped training since 2021.

Armando Ferreira expressed his regret over the increase in the number of attacks on police officers and believes that there should be an article in the Criminal Code that qualifies such acts of aggression as a crime.

For its part, the Independent Union of Police Officers (SIAP) reported via social media that “the use of pepper spray and ‘tasers’ is solely and exclusively intended to dissuade the aggressor”, emphasizing that these weapons are “intended to temporarily incapacitate a person without causing permanent harm”, which allows the police to respond quickly to dangerous situations and helps to avoid unnecessary injury to both officers and suspects.