Over the past six years, the number of complaints against the police has almost doubled: from 772 in 2017 to 1,436 last year, according to data from the Main Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI).
The body’s police monitoring data, which Lusa’s agency had access to, indicates that the PSP is the security force with the most complaints, receiving 538 reports in 2021 regarding the conduct of public security police agents in the IGAI. Next come the Republican National Guard with 427 and the Border Guard with 233.
The IGAI said it received 1,436 complaints against security forces in 2022, the highest in six years and an increase of 22.3% compared to 2021.
“Since 2017, the number of administrative processes arising from complaints/reports to the IGAI has been increasing annually and, comparing the data of 2022 (1436) with the data of 2021 (1174), a significant increase has been observed – about 22.32. %”, it is emphasized that the body is headed by judge Anabela Cabral Ferreira.
In 2017, the IGAI received 772 complaints, which rose to 860 in 2018, which increased again the following year to 950 complaints, with a further increase of 1,073 complaints recorded in 2020.
The majority of complaints received by the IGAI in 2022 were complaints filed by citizens, with a total of 639, of which 315 were reports from the judiciary, 290 from individuals and 69 from the Directorate General of Reintegration and Prison Services.
According to the IGAI, almost half of the complaints (48%) against the security forces were related to breaches of duty (improper procedures or conduct), with a total of 690 complaints lodged, 254 of which were directed at elements of the PSP, 199 GNR personnel and 191 SEF inspectors.
Violations of physical integrity were the second most common type of complaint filed in 2022, accounting for 14.3% of total police reports, followed by internal or professional matters (95 complaints).
Last year, IGAI also received 14 complaints related to discriminatory practices, 11 of which were directed against PSPs.
IGAI highlights the fact that in 2022 there were no “unlawful detention” or “death” situations, and there were 46 cases of domestic violence involving the police, which is six more than in 2021.
IGAI’s mission is to provide audit, verification and supervision functions to all entities, services and bodies under the control of MAI.