Several dozen residents of the Santa Maria Maior parish in Lisbon took part in a public meeting on Thursday to complain about the growing instability in this area of the capital’s historic centre and to ask for increased police activity.
Robberies of vehicles and shops, drug use in broad daylight and physical attacks are just some of the situations reported by dozens of people who gathered this afternoon at the Hotel Mundial in Martim Moniz to take part in an information session organised by the Parish Council of Santa Maria Maior.
The meeting was also attended by members of the Lisbon Municipal Police and the chief of staff of Councillor Angelo Ferreira, who is responsible for security.
At the opening of the meeting, Santa Maria Mayor Parish Council President Miguel Coello (PS) said the situation in the area had become “unsustainable” and that the municipality felt the need to “give a voice” to residents’ complaints.
“This is not against anyone. This is not a problem of nationalities, religions. This is a problem of everyone. This session is called to ask for help. We do not want to turn this into an ideological war,” he emphasized, refusing any connection with immigration issues.
After presenting a video with some images depicting situations of crime and violence, Miguel Coelho gave the floor to several residents who confirmed the mayor’s concerns.
“I’ve been robbed twice now and we had to install an alarm. I contacted the authorities and they said nothing could be done. My daughter is young and scared. She’s 24.
Another resident complained of drug use “in broad daylight” and syringes “scattered everywhere.”
“When I was little, I walked down the street alone, but today I have to walk everywhere with my children,” laments Andre Souza.
Luisa Reis, who has lived in Mouraria since birth, says she is “very afraid to go out on the streets”, complaining of noise, robberies and prostitution.
“Consumers and consumption levels have increased in recent times. I think the people in this area feel lonely,” said Filippa Bolotinha, president of the Renovar a Mouraria association.
At the end of the speeches, the president of the Santa Maria Maior Parish Council resumed his speech, leaving some proposals for consideration by the Lisbon City Council and the government in order to alleviate the security concerns.
The installation of a video surveillance network, the abolition of licensing, changes in the opening hours of commercial establishments, a ban on the sale of alcohol on the street after 9:00 p.m. and the classification of Santa Maria Mayor as a critical zone were just some of the proposals listed by the mayor.
“Safety cannot be considered as a statistic, but as a reality. Santa Maria Maior has no powers, so we leave this appeal to the Lisbon City Council and the government,” he said.
In a written response sent to Lusa on Wednesday, Lisbon City Council said “only 25 of the 200 elements” requested by the municipality to reinforce the municipal police had been provided, insisting on the need to increase the number of agents on the city’s streets, including the PSP.
“HML [Câmara Municipal de Lisboa] insisted from day one [do atual mandato, iniciado em 18 de outubro de 2021]the need to reinforce the Lisbon Municipal Police with more agents – since only 25 of the 200 requested officers have arrived so far – and also for more PSP agents [Polícia de Segurança Pública] on the city streets,” the municipality reported.