The Prime Minister today asked for greater coordination and collaboration in the action between the PSP and the GNR, stressing that these security forces have increasing competences, namely in the prevention and investigation of crime.
António Costa conveyed this position at the closing ceremony of the new general commander of the GNR, lieutenant general Rui Veloso, and national director of the PSP, chief superintendent Barros Correia, which took place at the Ministry of Finance.
«This ceremony has a very special symbolism. For the first time, we have a common inauguration ceremony for the general commander of the GNR and the national director of the PSP and with it we simultaneously reaffirm both the dual nature of our security forces system – one of a military nature, the other of a civil nature – , but we also reaffirm the determination of both to work, with respect for each other's own competencies, in close cooperation, collaboration and camaraderie in carrying out the common mission of guaranteeing the safety of citizens", declared the Prime Minister,
With the Ministers of Internal Administration and Defense, as well as the national director of the PJ, the Attorney General of the Republic and the Mayor of Lisbon listening to his intervention, António Costa stressed that the production of security is increasingly a demanding and collaborative task.
«It requires a culture of security in society», he warned, before extending the mandatory coordination between GNR and PSP to the whole system of the Armed Forces and other security forces.
According to the Government, the choice of Rui Veloso as General Commander of the GNR was a joint decision taken by the Prime Minister, Defense Minister Helena Carreiras, and Internal Affairs Minister José Luís Carneiro.
The choice of Barros Correia as national director of the PSP was made jointly by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Internal Administration.
Lieutenant General Rui Veloso, 53 years old, was promoted to his current post on the 16th of August and will be the first general commander of the GNR to come from the Guard itself, until now commanded by general officers of the Army.
Current Second General Commander of the Guard, Rui Veloso also commanded the Protection and Relief Intervention Group (current Protection and Relief Emergency Unit), having also carried out four missions abroad.
Chief Superintendent Barros Correia, 58 years old, has held the post of Secretary General of Social Services of the PSP since 2018, having served as chairman of the European Union Police Cooperation Group during the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, commander of the Azores and liaison officer for the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the Embassy of Portugal in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.
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