This week, the Public Security Police (PSP) identified 14 delivery drivers from different meal delivery platforms involved in a fight that occurred on August 31, 2024, in Parque das Nações, in Lisbon. The incident, which involved approximately 20 individuals, resulted in three people suffering stab wounds.
Investigations point to a territorial dispute between couriers, who compete for control of deliveries in specific areas of the city. This rivalry has led to violent clashes, such as the one recorded at Parque das Nações.
Following the investigations, searches were carried out at the suspects’ homes, where relevant objects were seized to clarify the facts. The authorities also found that the accommodations were overcrowded and irregularly subcrowded, without due control by the competent authorities.
This phenomenon of territorial disputes between couriers is not limited to Lisbon. In several European cities, there have been similar incidents, reflecting the precariousness of work and the lack of regulation in the home delivery sector. The pressure to guarantee a greater number of deliveries, combined with the absence of formal employment contracts, contributes to the intensification of these rivalries.
In the Algarve, although no clashes of this nature have been reported, the increased demand for meal delivery services during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the proliferation of delivery people in the region’s main cities. The lack of specific regulation and the competitiveness of the sector can potentially lead to situations similar to those seen in Lisbon.
The authorities call for the collaboration of delivery platforms to implement measures that promote decent working conditions and prevent the formation of groups that try to monopolize certain delivery areas. The PSP remains alert to possible incidents and reinforces the importance of reporting illegal behavior.
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