Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves announced plans to reorganize the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) by closing some police stations in urban areas like Lisbon. The government aims to reallocate officers to increase police visibility and presence on the streets. While the National Police Union (Sindicato Nacional da Polícia or SINAPOL) has called for a comprehensive restructuring, the minister rejected the creation of large central stations, emphasizing that the move will improve public safety.
Minister plans to close police stations for street presence
Thursday, 14 May 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Luís Neves will take office on Monday as Minister of Internal Administration. He graduated in law and has worked at the Judicial Police since 1995, where he served as coordinator of a national unit and developed a long career in criminal investigation.
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.
5 sources
- More police, less efficiency? What the data tells us about Portugal and the Austrian lessonPúblico ·
- Luís Neves admits to closing police stations but promises more officers on the streetsexpresso.pt ·
- PSP closes police stations to deploy 500 officers to the streetscmjornal.pt ·
- Minister of Internal Administration admits closure of PSP police stations in Lisbonpublico.pt ·
- National Police Union calls for "serious restructuring" in major citiesrtp.pt ·
