A lot of visibility and speed of action is what is required of the security device that will be set up in the Algarve between June and mid-September, which will be reinforced in 2013 with around 400 elements, as well as complementary means, between the various police forces.
The national operation «Verão Seguro 2013», with special focus on its component for the Algarve region, was presented yesterday in Faro by representatives of the GNR, PSP and SEF, in a ceremony that was attended by the Minister of Internal Administration Miguel Macedo.
In the region, talking about security in summer is also talking about tourism, which justifies the fact that the police reinforcement for the summer season has been presented at the headquarters of the Regional Tourism Authority of the Algarve.
And it is a tourist activity that justifies one of the novelties of the 2013 operation, the anticipation of its beginning to the beginning of June, keeping its end on September 15th, which means that the operation, as far as the GNR is concerned, will last for «107 days».
The GNR will deploy 150 elements, who will join those working in the region throughout the year, to spend this period in the region, 60 of which are newly graduated soldiers. 18 animals, including horses and dogs, and 22 vehicles will also be allocated to the region by this police force.
In the composition of the device, highlight for the new Tourist Support Patrol. The Algarve will have two teams that will be deployed in six places in the region where tourist activity is more intense.
There will also be a reinforcement of two squadrons of cavalry. The GNR's permanent device in summer is complete with two platoons for the maintenance of public order and 6 binomials (man and dog).
In addition to this permanent reinforcement, there will also be occasions, associated with larger events, in which even more GNR troops and resources will be deployed, even if for a few days.
These are the cases of the Motard Concentration of Faro (78 soldiers), the Sudoeste Festival (46), the Guadiana International Tournament (50) and the Sagres Superbock Surf Fest (50). In all, another 224 GNR elements will pass through the region.
The PSP will have two types of reinforcement, an "effective and definitive" of 34 new agents, who will be permanently assigned to the Command of Faro of this police force. During the 3rd quarter of 2013, there will be a reinforcement of 18 teams from the Special Police Unit and Intervention Corps, totaling 234 men and 36 vehicles.
This police force also presented news related to tourism, namely the expansion of tourist service posts and the increase in response capacity, as there will be a unit ready to leave command “in 30 seconds”, 24 hours a day.
This summer and the ones that follow will also bear fruit for the future, in terms of security, bearing in mind that the PSP and the University of the Algarve signed a cooperation protocol to carry out the «Algarve: Safe Destination» project. within which the actions of the police will be monitored, various studies and reports with assessments and recommendations will be carried out.
The reinforcement is the "necessary"
On the sidelines of the session, minister Miguel Macedo assured that this "is the necessary reinforcement", rejecting, with visible irritation, the idea that it is possible given the conditions that the country is going through.
"It is not by shooting with 500 or 600 more elements onto the ground that the problems are solved", considered the member of the Government, who stressed the effort of reinforcement throughout the year that has been made, which allowed to increase the numbers base of the police forces.
“It is not a question of rushing here, during the summer, with a reinforcement of circumstances,” he said. Miguel Macedo also assured that the ministry that he directs does not live “in a budget upset”.
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