This year, video surveillance cameras will be installed in the «most problematic areas» of the municipality of Albufeira. The announcement was made last week by Chamber President José Carlos Rolo.
Not now traditional greetings ceremony and New Year's message, the Albufeirense mayor added that the objective is to «provide residents and tourists with greater security».
To journalists, President José Carlos Rolo explained that video surveillance cameras will be installed "in the most problematic areas, which are negative news", a situation that the Municipality intends to change.
The streets of the bars in Praia da Oura and in the city of Albufeira itself will thus be the areas where the system should advance first, throughout the new year of 2019.
However, the mayor regretted that the matter is stranded in the Ministry of Internal Administration. "It's been a bit slow," he lamented.
Video surveillance, he added, "is very useful, as long as you understand what it's for," alluding to fears of loss of privacy.
The installation of video surveillance requires prior authorization from the National Data Protection Commission.
However, it is considered that the installation of cameras on public roads, whose images will only have access to the authorities - PSP or GNR, depending on the zones - has a deterrent and preventive effect, making the areas where they are installed safer and more attractive for residents, tourists and potential investors.
The news of contempt in the nightlife areas of the municipality of Albufeira has been frequent. The most serious case happened in June 2017, when young British people on vacation caused pitched battles and heavy damage, especially in Praia da Oura.
According to Correio da Manhã, took place at that time «a pitched battle, led by around 600 English tourists, between 19 and 22 years old».
«There were attacks and bottles were thrown by tourists against the GNR of Albufeira, which in the meantime had been alerted and had to use force», added the newspaper.
The GNR even fired rubber bullets into the air and "at least two boys, aged 20 and 21, and a girl aged 20, were injured and assisted by firefighters."
The video images were shared on social networks and reached British newspapers which, citing British tourists, criticized «the excess of aggressiveness» of the Portuguese police. It is the repetition of scenes like these, «damaging to the tourist image of Albufeira», that the Mayor José Carlos Rolo intends to avoid.
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