Five of the seven Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) unions have rejected the government's proposal for a border control supplement, citing insufficient amounts and concerns over the negotiation process. The Association of Police Professionals (Associação Sindical dos Profissionais da Polícia or ASPP) confirmed that planned protests will continue.
PSP unions reject government border control supplement proposal
Tuesday, 29 September 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
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.
4 sources
- Five of the seven PSP unions rejected the proposal regarding the police supplement at the borderspublico.pt ·
- Five PSP unions reject supplement for border police and maintain protestsexpresso.pt ·
- PSP: five unions reject border supplementobservador.pt ·
- Judiciary Police at airports have been without supplements for five monthscmjornal.pt ·
