On 30th July the Judicial Police have announced a new initiative, called  Abduction of Children Alert System which is aimed at improving the mechanism for quickly finding missing children, when there is evidence of crime.

The implementation of this system is part of an initiative by the Ministry of Justice within the framework of international commitments undertaken by the Portuguese State, and is based on a project developed by the Judicial Police in partnership with the Attorney General's Office, which received funding from the European Commission under the program Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.

The Abduction of Children Alert System aims to collect information from the public, in the hours following the kidnapping of a minor, all the information which could assist their rapid location and release.

The system is based on a partnership between the judicial authorities - Attorney General's Office, the Judicial Police and civil society - media, companies possessing the means of disseminating information and non-governmental organizations (NGO s) connected to the support and protection of victims. 

 The decision to activate the system rests with the Attorney General's Office, assisted by the Judicial Police.

When its applicable 

 The system can be activated when, cumulatively, it appears an abduction or kidnapping, is endangering the life or physical integrity of the victim, there is information whose disclosure would enable the location of the victim and / or suspect.

When it is not applicable

System can not be activated in cases of parental abduction or disappearance simple; 
 

Safe Communities understands from the Judicial Police that the system is aimed at better regulating and creating a more efficient system for the fast dissemination of details of the victim through the media to help identify their location and safe return.
 

It was reported on 22nd July 2014 that the Judicial Police, through the National Anti-Corruption Unit (UNCC), in collaboration with the Maritime Police, under International Cooperation and in compliance with a request from the authorities of the Republic of Ireland, participated in an investigation into an international organized group trying to smuggle tobacco using a merchant ship.

The operation, which mobilized many inspectors of the Judicial Police throughout the territory, was triggered after several months of investigation and involved, among other countries, Slovenia, place of shipment of merchandise, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland, the country of destination and landing.

The operation culminated in the arrest of some of the crew members of  the vessel, the seizure of the vessel "MV Shingle" operating under  the Moldovan flag,  as well as 32 million cigarettes and about 4 tons of tobacco valued at about 14 million Euros.

The internationally organized group is composed of citizens of the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, and the twelve ship's crew are Ukrainian nationality. This is the largest seizure of contraband tobacco this year in Europe.

On 21st July 2014 a 36 year old British national was arrested whilst leaving a hotel in Albufeira carrying a stolen backpack.

The suspect was seen by the owner of the backpack who recognized the bag as belonging to him. The GNR were called and the man arrested. According to reports the culprit lives in Lisbon and was visiting the Algarve. He is suspected carrying out at least 10 thefts in hotels in the Algarve and other areas of Portugal as well as Malaga and Ibiza.

On being seen by the owner of the backpack he tried to flee but was intercepted by the GNR. A number of items were recovered including cash.

The PSP police has launched its child safety bracelets scheme. The aim of this is that by wearing a bracelet should a child go missing and is found the finder can contact the police and through giving the special code on the bracelet the child can be reunited with their parents. The bracelets are available at all seven PSP stations in the Algarve and work in any country in Europe with a 112 emergency number.

It is recommended that the bracelets be worn for those up to the age of 12 years, whether the child is a tourist, visitor or resident. The bracelets are available until 30th September 2014. Upon issuing the bracelet, the details of the child and parents can be registered on the data base at the police station or later on-line. Some 30,000 have been issued to date.

There have been a number of reports in the Albufeira area concerning pickpocketting. This has taken place in or outside crowded bars. it is believed that the culprits checks areas where there are crowds and possibly using the "bumped into" technique to relieve the victims of their valuables.

Crowded areas provide an attraction for pickpockets such as the tramway and metro in Lisbon when people are about to alight or board transport. The idea is to strike when the victims guard is down.

I guess many people reading this newsletter do not frequent bars in Albufeira late at night during the summer months, but if you have relatives/friends staying with you who may do so, please refer them to the Safe Communities Algarve's anti-pickpocketting tips available here.

As mentioned in earlier newsletters theft from vehicles is the most common crime in Portugal and stands at roughly 8% of all crime. With the summer months there is a tendency for this type of crime to increase particularly at beach car parks and at supermarket car parks.

In the case of beach car parks the good news is that although these are normally free of charge the bad news is that they have little security. In the case of supermarkets the only one that we are aware of that has security patrols is Apolonia in Almancil.

Much can be done to reduce this crime and protect your property. An example of this was that recently a laptop was left on a back seat of a car at a supermarket in Monchique and guess what; the car was broken into and the item stolen.

Safe Communities Algarve has provided advice on how to reduce the risk of this type of crime which can be downloaded here.

It was reported on 29th July that a person was arrested by the PSP after a report was made by a resident that the person was acting suspiciously in a residential block in the city.

The resident had earlier reported that a stranger was in a corridor of the building wearing gloves and carrying tools suspected that could be used for breaking into apartments. When he was approached by the PSP they discovered a quantity of drugs in his possession.

Comment

Excellent community minded work by the resident concerned who probably saved neighbours from becoming a victim.

Burglary report at Montechoro, Albufeira

It was reported in the local media on 26th July 2014 that a property in Montechoro, Albufeira rented by a group of Spanish tourists had been broken into and over €1000 in cash stolen.

A pair of off-duty police officers who made an arrest while dressed as a zebra and a monkey have been commended for their bravery.PCs Tracy Griffin and Terri Cave were on their way to a fancy dress party when they came across a man yelling threatening abuse in a supermarket in Coventry, England in March 2014.

The pair, dressed in zebra and monkey outfits, wrestled the man to the ground as he left the Co-op store and told one of the staff to ring 999.

The man was arrested and taken into police custody on suspicion of public order offences, said West Midlands police.

The PCs, who are based in Solihull, spent the rest of their evening filing reports at the police station rather than heading to the party.

On hearing the news of the arrest, colleagues tweeted from @SolihullPolice: "Man threatening to kill people didn't expect to be wrestled to the ground by our off-duty officer in a zebra onesie. We go that extra mile."

Brian Eustace, 49, was later charged with public order offences and appeared before magistrates in Coventry in May 2014, where he was given a community order and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.The PCs' actions were described as "brave in the extreme" and "in accordance with the highest traditions of British policing".

At a ceremony in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Tuesday night - dressed in their official police uniforms - they received a chief constable's commendation from the West Midlands chief constable, Chris Sims, in front of family, friends and colleagues 

This was published in the last newsletter, but as Safe Communities Algarve continues to receive numerous reports regarding scam emails the advice is worth repeating again. Opening a scam email can result in your computer being infected with devastating consequences.

In order to help people deal with this we have put together some simple advice which should assist you when you receive a suspected scam email.

Download advice here

It was reported by Europol on 22nd July that a total of 36 people have been arrested and four others have been charged with belonging to an organised criminal group engaged in drug trafficking from the Spanish enclave of Melilla into Europe. Among those arrested was the head of the criminal group, a Dutch national with Moroccan origin.

The Spanish Guardia Civil, working with Europol, also seized cannabis resin totalling over half a tonne, €124,000 in cash, a sports boat, a jet ski and 22 luxury vehicles, two of which were equipped with sophisticated concealment systems. In addition computers, extensive documentation, 47 mobile phones, 3 GPS systems and a maritime GPS belonging to the boat were seized. The seizures were a result of searches carried out in houses in Melilla (5), M�laga (2), Almer�a (4), Madrid (2) and Amsterdam (2), a boat in Almeria and a shop in Madrid. 

David Thomas

President
Associa��o Safe Communities Algarve

31 July 2014