PSP National Director Defends Greater Attention to Video Surveillance

PSP national director Magina da Silva said on Tuesday in Coimbra that Portugal still has a lot of work to do on video surveillance, which he sees as the right way to fight crime.

“Usually I say that we must defeat the ghosts of the “big brother”. We can’t have a police officer on every corner and never will, but we can put cameras on several corners so that a policeman can see them,” he stressed. .

Magina da Silva, who spoke to reporters after the opening of the Quadrilheiros roundabout in front of the Coimbra command, said she had no doubt that the country still had “a lot of work to do”. [na videovigilância] relative to other countries.”

According to the national director, in many countries “the video surveillance tool is part of the very concept of policing by law enforcement agencies.”

This Monday afternoon, Magina da Silva, accompanied by PSP Commander of Coimbra Rui Moura and Mayor of Coimbra José Manuel Silva, unveiled the toponymic tablet “Rotunda dos Quadrilheiros” at the intersection of Avenue Elicio de Moura and Rua. Bento de Jesus Caras.

The Quadrilheiros, created by King D. Fernando, were agents responsible for urban public safety in every municipality in Portugal until the early 19th century, with the mission of arresting criminals and handing them over to the judicial authorities.

For the national director, “it is more than just a name on a roundabout, it is a sign of recognition, in this case from the municipal authorities, for the work that [a PSP] he treats the fellow citizens he serves.”

Asked by reporters about the corporation’s human and material resources, the CEO, who was reappointed in January, stressed that funds are never enough and ensured that the government provides “every possible support.”

“We would always like to have more funds and better equipment, but very large investments have been made in law enforcement agencies and services, which are phased in and do not satisfy all our needs at once,” he said.

The mayor of Coimbra believes that this initiative is “a fair tribute to the PSP and the men and women who do everything possible to ensure safety, sometimes at the risk of their own lives.”

“It is also a way to remember the past, our history and our culture,” said José Manuel Silva.

The initiative, which has been replicated in other parts of the country, aimed at recognizing PSP and police policing, came from the national leadership of the PSP, but looks to the cooperation of municipalities to integrate toponymy.

However, on Tuesday afternoon in Figueira da Foz, at the intersection of the Avenue Doctor Francis, the “Rotunda dos Quadrilheiros” was also opened. Joaquim de Carvalho and Rua Dr. Mira Coelho in the presence of the national director of PSP.