Union warns new PSP national director faces tough task

The Union of Professional Police Officers (ASPP/PSP) highlighted this Monday the “difficult task” ahead of the future National Director, Chief Superintendent Barros Correia, given the state of these security forces.

The ASPP statement said that the profile of the national director of the PSP “obviously matters for the good functioning of the institution, but the conditions provided by the MAI [Ministério da Administração Interna] and yet other variables are critical to this effect.”

The Police Union emphasizes that “political responsibility is always the basis for supporting police structures, and in this sense, no director will be able to manage an institution without the necessary resources and investments, as well as a correct and balanced policy.”

In the note, ASPP says it remains ready to meet and present its vision for the PSP to the new National Director.

The government announced on Sunday that it has appointed Chief Superintendent Barros Correia as the new National Director of the PSP and Lieutenant General Rui Veloso as the new General Commander of the GNA. The inauguration will take place on September 4th.

The government said in a statement that the appointment to the PSP is related to a request to terminate the functions of Chief Superintendent Magina da Silva.

The choice of Barros Correia as National Director of the PSP was made jointly by the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior.

Chief Superintendent Barros Correia, 58, has served as Secretary General of PSP Social Services since 2018, having been Chairman of the European Union Police Cooperation Group during the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Commander of the Azores and Liaison Officer of the Ministry of the Interior at the Portuguese Embassy in the Democratic Republic Sao Tome and Principe.