Crime victims now have a new place to turn to for support. The second Victim Support Office in the municipality of Tavira, located in the local GNR headquarters, was formally inaugurated this Tuesday and will allow for the reinforcement of the response that was already given, at the municipal level, namely with the populations of the interior, but also with the who visit this county, with a strong touristic bent.
Tavira, where the Portuguese Association for Victim Support has been installed for years, in a space located at the PSP police station, in the city centre, became «the first municipality in the Algarve and among the few in the country» to have two of these offices . A replication that is justified, taking into account the large size of the municipality, and also for logistical reasons, since the attendance room on the PSP's premises proved to be small for the work being carried out.
Every year, the APAV delegation from Tavira "opens about 200 new processes", and gives "between 500 and 600 consultations" to people who complain of various types of crimes, according to psychologist Rita Bessa, manager of the offices. And if the vast majority of cases "are linked to domestic violence, especially against women", there are also those who seek APAV for having been a victim of other crimes, such as "robbery, kidnapping and others".
APAV president João Lázaro, who is even from Tavir, stressed that, in order for the association he directs to do in-depth work, "it has to be in partnership, with the Chamber, with social services and with the police forces."
On the other hand, he explained, the Tavira delegation is already in need of more space, which, "due to the impossibility of the PSP building itself", could not be located near the facilities that already existed. «With the coming to the GNR headquarters, we now have one more service room, which was already needed, and also an office for the team, which is made up of the manager and volunteers», said the president of APAV.
APAV is present in five municipalities in the Algarve, a region where it has not only Victim Support Offices, but also specialized sub-networks, one of which is dedicated to helping «victims of human trafficking», but also a support area «for family members and friends of homicide victims, in close collaboration with the PJ».
"We are now launching a new project, aimed at children and young people who are victims of sexual violence, also in close collaboration with the police forces," added João Lázaro.
The head of APAV does not forget another “fundamental” piece, the many volunteers who give their time to the cause, which, in the case of Tavira, are always “in 4 or 5 people”, with different skills.
Despite stressing that "crime in Tavira, fortunately, has been declining", the mayor of Tavira Jorge Botelho stressed the importance of reinforcing this response, in order to "also reach the population outside the urban fabric". Moreover, the support of the Chamber goes beyond words, as it "contributes with a budget" so that the cabinet can function.
The GNR's area of jurisdiction is outside the city limits and this leads them to come into contact with a very different fringe of the population from the PSP, whether the elderly in the interior, some of whom live isolated, or foreign citizens living in Tavira, outside the City.
“We already had a situation regarding the accompaniment of APAV in the city. Now, we have the GNR, which does all the tourist part, the beaches and residential areas linked to tourism, which now has an office to direct people who see fit. What we are talking about is a feeling of security», illustrated the mayor of Tavir.
In addition to expediting the referral of cases to the APAV, by the GNR, it creates another "safe point" for the victims, since, as illustrated by Jorge Botelho, "making a complaint is an act of courage and it is important that the people who are on the other side are able to give the appropriate response».
The territorial commander of Faro Silva Gomes also highlighted the importance of providing a properly framed response to victims.
“Those who are targeted by crime are often victimized a second and third time, by the systems that are supposedly trying to defend them. Greater attention to these areas means that we do everything in our power so that, once victimized, everything that comes next is always support and solutions», he considered.
As for the introduction of this official inauguration in the program of commemorations for the seventh anniversary of the Command of Faro, said that, like the other planned activities, it is a way of publicizing the work that the GNR is carrying out in the region.
Something that assumes great importance, even for the main economic activity in the region, Tourism. “Often, the explosion of more or less punctual cases can bring a great climate of insecurity. But, as is well known, criminality has been declining in the Algarve, both common and violent and serious. This is the daily work of our soldiers, the result of their effort and dedication», defended the GNR commander.
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