The Cedofeita police station, in Porto, has closed its services to the population, in a decision that is generating controversy. Although the PSP command denies significant changes, the president of the Board warns of the departure of more than 30 agents and the consequent lack of policing in the area.
In the building in Cedofeita, remodeled a few years ago, two PSP services operated: the 12th precinct, responsible for general service to the population, and the tourism precinct, dedicated to supporting foreign citizens. However, more than 30 officers will have been transferred to other police stations.
“We arrived here and saw that, effectively, we only have a small tourism squad with three or four members serving only people who speak foreign languages. If the population of Cedofeita has a problem and wants to file a complaint, they have to go to Jardim do Infante”, says Nuno Cruz, president of the Junta do Centro Histórico do Porto.
Speaking to the Lusa agency, the PSP metropolitan command guarantees that service is maintained. He also adds that the building also began to function as division headquarters, after the Bonfim police station suffered damage due to storms, which forced the reorganization of services. This position was reiterated by Pedro Duarte in the last municipal assembly.
“Within that same police station, the personnel were reallocated to other police stations within the same parish. Otherwise, there has been no change and anyone who goes to that police station will be attended to. At night there will also be a police officer; in the event of an emergency, immediate assistance will be provided, with the call of a patrol car”, he stated.
The Police Union Association considers that This could be an attempt to cover up reality.
“There is a constant whitewashing of reality here and, on the other hand, there has been a decapitalization in operational terms of the Public Security Police, this being the best example. We know that, effectively, the Cedofeita police station, at this moment, does not exist from a formal point of view”, says Paulo Santos.
Given the situation, the president of the Historic Center Parish Council, owner of the building, expresses concern about the lack of policing on the streets and admits to reevaluating the renewal of the lease contract.
“For all intents and purposes, they are fulfilling the contract, but the renewal is up to the Parish Council to analyze whether it is worth it and what is at stake.”
However, the Porto Municipal Police should be reinforced with 80 officers. The president of the Board fears that this reinforcement will imply the withdrawal of more personnel from PSP police stations.
