Montenegro didn’t like that image of Martim Moniz. And he never associated immigration with insecurity

However, there have been similar images in other times, recalls the prime minister. Serious crime trend is decreasing.

Luis Montenegro admitted for the first time that didn’t like what he saw at Martim Moniz. He didn’t like that image of dozens of people by the police – and that has given rise to a lot of criticism.

“I’m very honest: I didn’t like watching it either. In a visual sense, I didn’t like seeing it. It’s an anomalous situation, which is not everyday life“, he began by saying.

However, there were similar images in other times, recalls the prime minister. “I’ve seen a lot of images” like those, as has been spread across social media in recent days, with examples of young people touching each other after nights out.

And the Prime Minister said he didn’t see it there “no disrespect for the dignity of people. Having not spoken to anyone, I repeat, what it seemed to me was that we were in the presence of an operational measure that had no alternative”.

Luís Montenegro added: “There is no intentionI am absolutely certain, in the police forces and the government, that persecution and stigmatization of any community.”

Speaking to , the prime minister assured that he never associated immigration with violence.

“I never made an association between immigration and insecurity. And I don’t think it exists“, he commented.

“Therefore, if there is no direct relationship [entre imigração e violência]this does not mean that we are not attentive phenomena that also happen to citizens or international networks that operate in Portugal”, he explained.

The Prime Minister does not yet have the provisional crime rate for 2024, but said that “there are some indications that the serious crime and violent has had any worsening.” Mass trend is from decrease.