New Police Chief Pledges Inclusive Force for All Residents
Chief Superintendent Pedro Moura was sworn in as the new national director of the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP), pledging to make the force accessible to both Portuguese citizens and foreign residents. At the inauguration ceremony, Minister of Internal Administration (Ministro da Administração Interna) Luís Neves also promised to prioritize pay and working conditions for frontline patrol officers.
Pedro Moura is the national director of Portugal's Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP), appointed to succeed Luís Carrilho. Before heading the PSP, he served as the coordinator of the border and foreign nationals unit within the Internal Security System (Sistema de Segurança Interna). His appointment represents the third leadership change for the national police force in a three-year span.
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.
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.
