The law determines that police officers must retire at the age of 60, a limit that now has a direct impact on the Algarve, where hundreds of Public Security Police (PSP) officers are about to reach that age. The rule has immediate effects on a workforce already marked by accumulated departures and an aging workforce, influencing the region’s operational capacity.
José Rosado, leader of the Police Professionals Union Association, explained to the Lusa news agency that the Algarve Command currently has around 850 members, with an average age above 45 years old. According to the same source, this aging gains particular expression given the number of agents approaching the age limit.
Around 200 Algarve police officers will be forced to retire
By 2030, around 200 police officers in the region will reach the point of mandatory retirement, which represents approximately a quarter of the force. The news agency adds that the district of Faro already has a deficit of around 100 agents, a situation that will worsen with the planned departures.
National recruitment tries to stop the imbalance
The Faro Command emphasizes that the national recruitment competition for the Agent Training Course, currently underway, could replace part of the elements preparing to leave. The same source states that the procedure runs until December 23rd and gives access to the PSP agent career.
Based on data released by the same source, this competition appears as an opportunity to mitigate the impact of retirements, in a region with strong tourist pressure and increased responsibilities, including security at Gago Coutinho international airport.
The entry of new agents could help balance the contingent in a period marked by mandatory changes in the police force.
Legal regime conditions staff management
The law allows, in addition to mandatory retirement at age 60, access to pre-retirement from age 55 and with 36 years of service, subject to government authorization. According to , this mechanism makes it possible to reduce or cease functions before legal age, also influencing the capacity for internal planning.
Despite the planned reinforcement through recruitment, the Algarve will continue to depend on the ability to attract candidates and ensure conditions that allow stabilizing the number of employees in the coming years.
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