The president of security company Prosegur believes that there has not been an increase in crime due to the economic crisis, and that Portugal remains “a very safe country.”
João Gaspar da Silva commented that the crisis has seen the end of many companies, a large rise unemployment, emigration, and often despair but as for crime, he believes that "Portugal is, in the context of the world and of Europe, still a very safe country."
Gaspar da Silva admitted that there may have been, here and there, “one-off increases, as have existed in the past, but when we look over a ten year cycle, there has been no significant change since 2009.”
The Prosegur boss also emphasised the difference between security and the 'perception of safety.’ "It is true that there is a rise in perception that has been reflected in public opinion, but if you look at the evolution of the main crime rates over time, the truth is that Portugal remains safe."
