Minister defends "overwhelming majority of PSP professionals" after preventive detention of seven officers

The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, defended on Saturday (7) that the “overwhelming majority of PSP professionals serve Portugal with a strong sense of mission” following the preventive detention of seven officers for crimes such as torture and rape. In a message posted on the Instagram page of the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI), Neves emphasized the importance of maintaining citizens' trust in institutions, stating that not all police officers are the same. He highlighted that approximately 200,000 professionals work daily for public safety. This statement comes after it was revealed that the seven detained officers will await trial for serious torture, completed and attempted rape, abuse of power, possession of prohibited weapons, and serious physical harm. The Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) and the PSP announced that the preventive measure was justified due to the risk of continued criminal activity and public disorder. Neves also noted that “the presumption of innocence applies to all citizens” but acknowledged that this case demonstrates how state institutions are functioning, as the report originated from the PSP itself. He assured that any suspicions of illegal behaviour by security forces will be thoroughly investigated. The seven officers were arrested following an investigation into serious crimes at the Rato police station in Lisbon, joining two other officers already in preventive detention since July. In January, these two were accused of crimes including torture and abuse of power, primarily targeting drug addicts, homeless individuals, and foreigners. Reports indicate that they assaulted detainees and filmed some of the incidents, sharing them in WhatsApp groups with other officers. One case involved a Moroccan citizen allegedly sodomised with a baton and beaten before being abandoned on the street. The Inspector General revealed that three disciplinary processes are underway regarding this case, alongside investigations into officers who viewed the shared videos of the alleged torture and rape incidents.

Context & Explainers

Preventive detention (prisão preventiva) is a court-ordered measure that keeps a suspect in custody before trial when a judge decides there is a real risk they might flee, tamper with evidence, or pose a danger to others. It is temporary and not a conviction; in the recent case five of the 37 alleged members were ordered to await the investigation in preventive detention by the Central Criminal Investigation Court. Those detained should request a lawyer and can seek consular assistance if they are foreign nationals, while family or lawyers can ask the court to review or lift the measure.

The PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública) is Portugal's national civilian police force, founded in 1867. Responsible for defending Republican democracy and safeguarding internal security and citizens' rights, the PSP polices major cities—Lisbon, Porto, Faro—and large urban areas, covering only 4% of Portugal's territory but roughly half the population. Led by a National Director under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, its approximately 21,500 officers handle preventive policing, crime investigation, public order, airport security, diplomatic protection, private security regulation, firearms licensing, and border control (since 2023).

PSP vs. GNR: The PSP is civilian with police-focused training and urban jurisdiction, while the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana) is military (gendarmerie) with military training, covering 96% of Portugal's rural and suburban territory. Both share core public safety missions but differ fundamentally in nature, training, and geographic responsibility.