The Mayor of the Lagoa City Council, Luís Encarnação, has asked the Operational Commander of the National Republican Guard (GNR), Lieutenant-General Borlido da Rocha, for more policing on Praia do Carvoeiro.
The Mayor, accompanied by the President of the Union of Parishes of Lagoa and Carvoeiro, Joaquim João, traveled to Lisbon to “personally convey to the Central Command of the GNR his concern regarding the lack of policing in Praia do Carvoeiro, as well as the feeling of insecurity and some revolt that has taken hold among the people of Carvoeiro and business people in the town”.
The mayor reported the "feeling of impunity that has taken hold among those who 'hang around' in the town and approach visitors and residents illegally, causing outrage among those who witness this behaviour daily, who feel unsafe and have no one to turn to due to the lack of policing and the image of the town, the municipality and even the Algarve region, which has been seriously damaged."
At this meeting, in addition to demanding more policing for Praia do Carvoeiro, Luís Encarnação warned that "the Algarve region, and the municipality of Lagoa in particular, requires increased policing during the summer months because it is the region of the country with the highest concentration of tourists. If the existing staff at territorial posts during the other months of the year is insufficient to ensure minimum services, there is even less capacity to provide them during the summer months."
The meeting “resulted in a commitment by the Operational Commander of the National Republican Guard to reinforce policing in Praia do Carvoeiro, by increasing criminal investigations into illegal activities, increasing the presence of the Intervention Corps, Horse Policing and the deployment of teams in the municipality, as part of the Tourist Support Patrol initiative.”
Following similar meetings held previously with the Commander of the Silves Territorial Post, Captain Silva, as well as with the Commander of the Faro Territorial Command, Colonel Marco Henriques, “Praia da Marinha has had permanent police monitoring traffic flow and illegal parking since July 7th”.
