The calm at Monte Clérigo beach in the Algarve’s Aljezur was broken over the weekend, when a Spanish couple were allegedly caught photographing scantily-clad women and children. Murmurs of indignation among beachgoers quickly turned to anger, with reports indicating that several beachgoers decided to confront the pair.
The beachgoers are alleged to have surrounded the offending man, then taking his mobile phone from him and confronting him with what appeared to be a disturbing archive containing images of young children playing naked by the sea. The authorities were called, but, to the astonishment of those present, the couple were allegedly allowed to leave, and the images were deleted.
A GNR patrol arrived first, but policing responsibility on the beach ultimately falls to the Maritime Police. More than half an hour later, a Maritime Police team arrived.
According to a witness, what followed was described as a lack of preparedness, or even negligence, by some law enforcement officers when dealing with offences requiring specialist knowledge.
A criminal law specialist commented on the case, opining that the alleged photographing of children, including some who were naked, could constitute the public offence of child pornography, meaning that a formal complaint would not be required for criminal proceedings to be initiated.
However, rather than arresting the couple, seizing the mobile phone, and immediately referring the case to the duty public prosecutor, the Maritime Police allegedly treated the incident as though it were a minor traffic offence.
The officers are further alleged to have deleted the photographs of the children, returned the phone to its owner, and allowed the couple to leave. They reportedly told the outraged beachgoers that they should go to the Lagos Harbour Master's Office to file a formal complaint.
Source: 24horas
Photo credit: 24horas
