Is police violence a common practice in Portugal?

Prudence dictates that we take a deep breath and reflect on recent news regarding abuses of power by PSP agents. Yesterday, it was revealed that seven more officers were detained on suspicion of connections to the torture case at the Esquadra do Rato in Lisbon. Two police officers were already in preventive custody, accused of crimes including torture, abuse of power, and physical assault. The torture case at the Esquadra do Rato, which has brought to light shocking testimonies of aggression, joins other instances of police violence involving various law enforcement agencies. Despite the narratives emerging, these cases are isolated incidents that should not tarnish the reputation of the entire police force. However, due to their frequency, notoriety, and in some cases, the degree of cruelty and violence, they warrant deep reflection. The PSP has decided to strengthen psychological evaluations to filter out radical and aggressive attitudes, resulting in the exclusion of 85 candidates from last year's recruitment. This year, over 4,000 people applied for the PSP training course, the highest number in the last five years, indicating that the PSP remains an attractive career option for young Portuguese. This also serves as a cautionary reminder for those responsible for ensuring that individuals who may exploit police forces for political, religious, or racial agendas are not accepted into their ranks.