IGAI indicates violations in the space at Lisbon Airport for foreigners

The General Inspectorate of Internal Administration pointed out irregularities in the reception area for foreigners at Lisbon airport and recommended that the PSP evaluate the CCTV system and find a solution for citizens housed for long periods of time.

The space equivalent of the Temporary Installation Center (EECIT) at Lisbon Airport, which was run by the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) and was taken over by the PSP after its closure in October 2023, was one of 69 sites subject to unannounced inspections. carried out by the Inspectorate General of Internal Administration (IGAI) last year.

“As regards the findings and the analysis carried out, over the past few years the Foreigners and Borders Service has found it very difficult to implement the recommendations that IGAI has sent to it on an ongoing basis regarding the inconsistencies that have been identified” at the EECIT at Lisbon Airport, meaning a report from this body that monitors police activity.

The document details that IGAI carried out three inspection activities in 2023, two of which were carried out while the premises were under the management of SEF, and another in December, which was already under the management of PSP.

IGAI emphasizes that an unannounced review carried out in December “found that the situations already identified are ongoing and are now within the context of PSP intervention.”

Among the “inconsistencies” found, IGAI highlights the CCTV system, which “raises concern and raises doubts regarding its proper functioning, usefulness and proper use in accordance with the law”, lack of communication platforms and a police force that does not include female PSP members. .

The institution also reports that the PSP pointed out “deficiencies and deficiencies in the alarm equipment installed on the premises” and the IGAI also tested citizens staying in EECIT “for extended periods of time, most of which exceeded seven days.”

“Similarly, it was established that citizens spent the night in the international area of ​​the airport, lying on the floor, without conditions, without comfort and without privacy, and one of the citizens contacted reported that he stayed in this area for 14 days,” says the report, which also states that “private security guards continue to lack specialized training in human rights and first aid.”

In this sense, the IGAI recommended that the PSP “correct the lack of an evacuation plan for facilities, and the appointment of a responsible person in the event of a possible need for evacuation to ensure the constant presence at certain times of the day of at least one female agent in EECIT facilities.”

It also recommends that the CCTV system installed at EECIT be assessed to ensure that it is functioning correctly, that it can benefit from it and that its use complies with the law.”

“Evaluate the solution to provide clothing for citizens staying in EECIT for long periods of time, especially during the winter, provide blankets and increase the offer of food and services for citizens who stay and spend the night in the international area of ​​Humberto Airport. Delgado and expedite, as far as possible, the process of transferring citizens remaining in the international area of ​​the airport to the EECIT,” were other recommendations of the IGAI of the Public Security Police.

During 2023, the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration carried out six unscheduled inspections of four temporary installation centers or equivalent premises (CIT/EE) existing in Lisbon, Porto and Faro.

Last year, the IGAI carried out a total of 69 walk-in inspections, affecting 42 GNR and 21 PSP police stations and four CIT/EEs, corresponding to 25 inspection processes.