Portugal: police & security agencies
01 January 1991
Portugal: police & security agencies
bacdoc July=1995
The information in this country file was first published in the
handbook "Statewatching the new Europe" (November 1993). It was
compiled by Peter Klerks and extracted from a longer report which
is available from: The Domestic Security Research Foundation, PO
Box 11178, 1001 GD, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Portugal
92,080 km², 10,387,617 inhabitants
Long-form name: Portuguese Republic
Type: republic
Capital: Lisbon
Administrative divisions: 18 districts (distritos,
singular--distrito) and 2 autonomous regions (regioes autonomas,
singular--regiao autonoma), Acores (Azores) and Madeira. The
dependent area Macau is scheduled to become a Special
Administrative Region of China in 1999.
Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982 and 1 June
1989
Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal
reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Executive branch: president, Council of State, prime minister,
deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic
(Assembleia da Republica)
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal
de Justica)
I. POLICE STRUCTURES & forces
Total no. of police officers (1990 estimate): 47,000. Women in
the police: PSP unknown, PJ 6.5%, many of whom work in the higher
ranks. The GNR have no women personnel, nor does the Guarda
Fiscal. No. of police officers per 100,000 inhabitants: 452 (EC
av. 338)
The following three services are departments of the Interior
Administration Ministry: Polícia Segurança Pública (PSP, Public
Safety Police), about 20,000 strong, is responsible for
maintaining public order and traffic duties in urban areas. It
has a Divis?o de Segurança for VIP protection duties and riot
control capabilities in the Corpo de Intervenç?o. Guarda Nacional
Republicana (GNR), a 18,800 strong paramilitary force, now under
the authority of the Ministry of the Interior, performs the same
tasks in rural areas. It has mobile units for riot control. The
Aliens' Bureau is responsible for police duties connected with
foreigners in Portugal. The Guarda Fiscal is attached to the
Finance Ministry; about 8,000 officers combat smuggling and
perform frontier checks.
The Polícia Judici ria (PJ, about 1,000 strong) deals with
the prevention and investigation of crime and is an auxiliary
department of the Ministry of Justice under the ultimate
responsibility of the Attorney General (Portuguese NCB, 1990).
It has a central headquarters (the Directorate General) and
regional headquarters and local offices. The Directorate General
comprises: the Central Violent Crime Squad, the Central Drug
Squad and the Central Economic and Financial Crime Squad. The
latter also has a Anti-Corruption Branch. The General Directorate
also includes: the Higher Police Council (a consultative body
which assists the Director General); the Central Information
Register and Crime Prevention Department which carries out
special surveillance duties and assists the Interpol NCB; the
Interpol NCB; a forensic lab; and a telecommunications
department.
Special units
The Polícia de Segurança Pública has had an anti-terrorist
capability since 1979 in the Grupo de Operacoes Especiais,
initially trained by the British SAS. Many members are former
Commandos.
Weaponry and special equipment
PSP: Pistols are the standard sidearm, rifles and sub machine
guns (SMGs) are optional for special deployments and at
roadblocks. PJ: Pistols as well as revolvers are standard
sidearms for the plain clothes PJ officers. 12 mm riot guns and
SMGs are available for special occasions. GNR: pistols and
rifles; light infantry weapons.
Arrests and the treatment of detainees
No one may be held for more than 48 hours without appearing
before an investigating judge. Inve