On 10^th April a Court in Aveiro, sentenced, to four and a half years imprisonment a scrap dealer suspected of trying to kill a man of 83 years, causing him loss of sight in one eye. The defendant, 31, who was charged with a qualified crime of attempted murder, was tried in absentia because he is at large. The judges decided as proven, aggression to the octogenarian, but that the assailant had not intended to kill the victim. The defendant was convicted of a crime of simple attempted homicide after the collective of judges disqualified the attempted aggravated attempted murder in the form for which he was charged.

A friend of the offender was convicted in the same case, for giving false testimony to one year and three months in prison, but was replaced by 465 days of work for the community. The man, who have helped to cover up the crime, was also acquitted of a personal bias crime.

The facts occurred on the morning of February 4, 2013, when the scrap dealer went to home for the elderly in Oliveirinha parish, in Aveiro, to buy scrap metal. According to the charges brought by the Public Ministry (MP), the octogenarian refused to do any business with the accused. The scrap dealer then assaulted the elderly man in the head and face, striking several blows with a blunt object not determined, that caused several injuries and the total loss of vision in the right eye.

After the attacks, the accused fled the place, leaving the victim lying on the ground, and was eventually rescued by a neighbour. In the indictment, the prosecution said that the accused acted with the intent to take life to the octogenarian, taking advantage advantage their difference in age and that he knew the victim was elderly and was living alone. The attacker, who had been convicted last year to suspended prison sentences, had fled abroad, and is the subject of an European arrest warrants for compliance with probation

On 9^th April the Public Security Police (PSP) through the Department of Private Security (DSP) and as part of an inspection operation of private security activity arrested six people comprising: a manager of an illegal private security company; a manager of a commercial food distribution business; the manager of two shopping centres and three patrol staff.

The six arrests occurred in the area of ​​Setubal, in in the towns of Azeitão, Amora and Almada, where detainees were conducting illegal activities punishable as a crime under the Private Security Act.

The action involved elements of the DSP and the District Command of the PSP Setúbal.

On 8^th April Spanish Police arrested three persons (a Morocan, a Romanian and the other Spanish) and seized a boat carrying 8320 kgs of hashish.

The vessel was being used in the transportation of drugs using ports at Olhao and V.R.S. Antonio. The vessel was registered in Sines.

On April 8, 2015, investigators of the Center for Criminal Investigation of the Territorial Detachment of Loulé the National Guard conducted a police operation in Quarteira, culminating in the arrest of two citizens for committing several thefts.

The investigative actions follow two robberies that took place in late 2014 in Quarteira and Vilamoura, involving two residences.

Following a search conducted in Quarteira the two individuals aged 19 and 20 years were detained. Items seized included a firearm replica (revolver), a cap, a pair of gloves and clothing recognized by the victims as having been used by individuals during the robberies, such as caps, sweaters and coats.

In addition to these objects a small amount of narcotic product, was also recovered plus five mobile phones, twelve headphones, a tablet and an MP3, which have been identified as stolen.

One detainee was already under police reporting measures and the other the subject to house conditions following similar crimes they were arrested for last summer. The detainees live in Quarteira, and have appeared before the Department of Investigation and Penal Action prosecutors Loulé for implementing appropriate enforcement measures.

I am sure that everyone living in the eastern Algarve will be aware of, or may have experienced the destructive wildfires that took place in 2012.

Last year Safe Communities Algarve held a number of Wildfire prevention seminars with various authorities throughout the Algarve, which proved very popular. We are therefore planning further events this year in the lead up to the hot season, when the fire risks become higher.

The first of these will take place in Bilbioteca Municipal de Tavira, on 14th April from 1630 to 1830 hrs, followed by a fire fighting demonstration to be held at the barracks of the Portuguese Army located nearby.

We are pleased that the participating organizations are the Tavira Municipality Bomberios, the GNR plus their GIPPS (emergency rescue service) as well as the 1st Infantry Regiment of the Portuguese Army, who have a role in dealing with emergencies.  The Mayor of Tavira has been invited.

The program will commence at the library with presentations and move to the army barracks next door for demonstrations and viewing of vehicles and equipment and demonstration of tactics.

This is promised to be a very interesting event aimed at creating awareness of wildfires, and the steps that can be taken to help prevent them.

Please register your attendance in advance with the number of people attending by contacting Safe Communities Algarve on info@safecommunitiesalgarve.com or on 913045093

The RASI Portugal Annual Crime figures for 2014 have been released by Government and the following gives a general overview:

Crime in Portugal decreased to 343,768 or by 24,684 cases (-6.7%) compared to 2013. This is a decrease of 18.3% compared to 2008.

Crime in the Algarve (Faro District) was 21,442 cases a decrease of 7% compared to 2013.

Overall violent crime decreased from 20,147 cases in 2013 to 19,061 -5.3%

In the main crime categories, crime against property decreased by 9823 or -4.9% and crimes against persons decreased by 1102 cases or -1.3%. Crimes against property amounted to 55.7% and crimes against persons represented 24.1 % of all crime reported.

Theft of non-precious metals decreased by 4973 cases down -37.15

Drink driving over 1.2 g/l decreased by -3855 cases or -15.7%

There were also decreased in bank robberies (-42.7%; Farmacies – 36.4% and petrol stations -32.9%.

Theft from residences (burglaries) decreased by -2894 cases or -13%

Residential robberies decreased from 848 cases in 2013 to 731 cases.

There was however an increase in public transport robberies up 127 cases or 26.1%; opportunist theft up 877 cases +9.2% and domestic violence up 31 cases or 0.1%

The highest reported crimes were:

A total of 3,738 kgs of cocaine; 35 kg of heroin, 32,848 kg of hashish and 6739 estacy tablets were seized.