Torture in police stations: Seven officers held in preventive detention due to "risk of continued criminal activity"

Seven police officers detained this week are being investigated for torture and other crimes at the Rato and Bairro Alto police stations in Lisbon. The preventive detention measures were announced by the Public Security Police (PSP) on Saturday, March 7. The decision to keep these officers in custody is based on the risk of “continued criminal activity” among other factors. The investigation has now led to nine officers being held preventively, facing charges of “serious torture, completed and attempted rape, abuse of power, possession of prohibited weapons, and serious and qualified bodily harm.” The PSP has also initiated seven disciplinary proceedings against the officers involved. The PSP expressed its “repudiation” of any criminal behaviour by its agents and stated it would take all necessary measures to prevent such actions in the future. The investigation began within the PSP itself, following reports of the case, which includes video and photographic evidence of the alleged assaults shared in messaging groups. The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, emphasized that there is no place in Portuguese security forces for illegitimate violence or violations of fundamental rights, and that any indications of such behaviour will be thoroughly investigated and punished according to the law.