Portugal's Security Report for 2017, known as RASI, was published on 27th March 2018 and sets out in over 260 pages, the state of security in Portugal.
As mentioned in the newsletter published last week, this current edition of the newsletter focuses on the Algarve.
Overall crime showed an increase in Faro District (the Algarve) from 21,505 in 2016 to 21,907, i.e. 1.8%). Violent crime deceased very slightly by 0.3% to 994 cases, well below the national decrease of -8.7%
Safe Communities Portugal has undertaken an initial analysis of the report and more detailed figures provided by Direção - Geral da Politica de Justiça, to determine the crime situation for Faro District and identify any noticeable crime trends. As a result of this, the area of one concern is that for the second successive year, opportunist thefts and burglaries without break-ins are showing moderate increases, indicating that people are taking less care of their property. This is a situation that needs to be reversed.
It is important to note that these only relate to reported crime; many crimes go unreported.
The considerable increase in residential robberies is of concern and this will be taken up with police to determine any particular patterns and MO.
To learn more about how to sponsor a newsletter by becoming one of our supporters please contact us on 913045093 or at
[email protected]
.
David Thomas
President
Safe Communities Portugal
|
|
The increase in overall crime reverses the general decrease since 2008 when the total of crimes reported stood at 29,248. This is the first increase since 2010. The rate of decrease has been greater than Portugal as a whole.
The highest crime in terms of numbers in the Algarve was again drink driving, which stood at 1761 cases, followed by opportunist theft with 1456, cases; minor assault 1364 cases; and other damage 1293 cases.
In the overall categories of crime in the district, crime against persons stood at 4819 cases up 0.6% against last year and crimes against property 11,772 cases, up 9.1% compared to 2016.
The level of property crime is higher than the national average and crime against persons lower.
Violent crime, which includes rape, homicide serious assault and robberies stood at 994 cases a decrease of four cases compared to 2016.
|
The major specific crimes showing upward trends in several areas of the district are shown in the following table
|
Crime
|
No in District
|
Percentage increase
|
|
Burglary without breaking
|
718
|
28.6
|
|
Serious assault
|
53
|
8.1
|
|
Theft from supermarket
|
62
|
51.2
|
|
Other scams/fraud
|
962
|
34.5
|
|
Street robbery with snatching
|
278
|
6.9
|
|
Opportunist theft
|
1456
|
24.4
|
|
Street robbery with snatching
|
278
|
11.1
|
|
Drug trafficking
|
393
|
7.3
|
|
Pickpocketing
|
625
|
12.6
|
The increase in the number of burglaries without break-in and opportunist theft shows that people are failing to take simple crime prevention measures to protect property. This sort of crime can be reduced.
In terms of crimes against pet animals, a total of 86 cases of cruelty were recorded compared to 74 in 2016. In addition, there were 31 cases of abandoning pets, down eight from the previous year.
|
Conversely the following table shows the main crimes where there were general decreases throughout the year
|
Crime
|
No in District
|
Percentage decrease
|
|
Bank Fraud
|
106
|
-19.7
|
|
Burglary with break-in
|
1148
|
-23.8
|
|
Street robberies without snatching
|
292
|
-12.0
|
|
Computer fraud
|
411
|
-2.3
|
|
Drink driving
|
1761
|
-2.3
|
|
Minor assault
|
1364
|
-4.2
|
|
Threats and coercion
|
892
|
-1.7
|
|
Metal theft
|
61
|
-30.6
|
|
Other thefts
|
713
|
-7.5
|
|
Theft from Motor vehicle
|
1252
|
-14.7
|
|
Theft of motor vehicle
|
401
|
-10.5
|
|
Thefts from annexes of properties
|
204
|
-3.3
|
The decrease of -14.7% in theft from motor vehicles is a very welcome trend as this is against the national trend where such crime increased by 5.5% compared to 2016. It appears that the message about leaving valuables in cars is getting across. This is noteworthy as there has been a significant increase in tourism in 2016 and hire cars are often the targets for this type of criminality.
The vast reduction in metal theft (non-precious metals) is in line with national trends due to crackdowns on scrapyards who were receiving the goods.
The reduction by almost a quarter of burglaries of residencies with break-ins, is a welcome trend, although it appears that burglaries without breaking are increasing.
Thefts of dogs decreased from 27 in 2016 to 21 last year.
|
The number of violent crime in the Algarve stood at 994 cases in 2016, a very slight decrease of four cases increase compared to 2015, and the second highest increase in percentage terms in the country after Beja. Of the 18 districts on the mainland, 14 showed a decrease and four an increase. The main violent crimes for the district and comparison with 2015 are shown in the following table
|
Violent Crime
|
2017
|
2016
|
% change since 2016
|
|
Street robbery without snatching
|
292
|
332
|
-12.0
|
|
Street robbery with snatching
|
278
|
260
|
6.9
|
|
Residential robbery
|
56
|
35
|
60.0
|
|
Other robberies
|
28
|
22
|
27.2
|
|
Robbery at petrol stations
|
6
|
5
|
20.0
|
The increase in residential robberies (with violence or the threat of violence) from 35 to 56 cases is of some concern. This is the highest since 2014 and goes against the national trend where there has been a reduction of 3.7% compared to last year. Approximately 10% of all residential robberies in Portugal are in the Algarve, which is disproportionate to the number of residents which is only 4.3% of the population.
During 2017 there were no robberies at banks, pharmacies, or on public transport in the Algarve. The number of Bank robberies stood at three, the first cases since 2013.
There were 47 cases of rape recorded (up 56%) and 47 cases of sexual abuse against children an increase of four compared to 2016.
Domestic violence stood at 1437 cases a slight increase from 1366 the previous year.
|
The total number of other scams/Fraud cases stood at 962, an increase of 34.5% compared with 2016 and a three-fold increase compared to 2008, when it stood at 473 cases.
These include, fraudulent adverts in newspapers; door step sellers and other miscellaneous frauds.
In addition, Computer/communications Fraud amounted to 411 cases, a decrease of -2.3% compared to the previous year. In 2008 this type of fraud amounted to just 15 cases! Such on-line fraud includes on-line shopping fraud; villa letting scams etc.
More detailed analysis needs to be undertaken to determine the nature of different types of scams and fraud.
|
Geographical Distribution of crime
The following table shows in alphabetical order the number of reported crimes by municipality and the changes compared to 2016 and 2008. Compared to 2016, seven municipalities showed a decrease, seven showed an increase and two remained about the same.
|
Municipality
|
No in 2017
|
No in 2016
|
% change since 2016
|
% change since 2008
|
|
Albufeira
|
3277
|
3366
|
-2.7
|
-39.3
|
|
Alcoutim
|
89
|
100
|
-11.0
|
12.6
|
|
Aljezur
|
255
|
264
|
-3.4
|
-23.6
|
|
Castro Marim
|
203
|
222
|
-8.1
|
-34.3
|
|
Faro
|
3118
|
2861
|
8.9
|
-12.0
|
|
Lagoa
|
789
|
804
|
-1.3
|
-51.2
|
|
Lagos
|
1176
|
1056
|
11.3
|
-34.5
|
|
Loulé
|
3755
|
3790
|
-0.9
|
-6.8
|
|
Monchique
|
157
|
169
|
-7.1
|
-7.0
|
|
Olhão
|
1927
|
1902
|
1.3
|
-11.1
|
|
Portimão
|
2712
|
2640
|
2.7
|
-27.7
|
|
Sao Bras
|
371
|
322
|
15.2
|
-6.3
|
|
Silves
|
1399
|
1355
|
3.2
|
-28.2
|
|
Tavira
|
934
|
932
|
0.0
|
-25.6
|
|
Vale do Bispo
|
270
|
271
|
0.0
|
-30.9
|
|
V.R.S.Antonio
|
768
|
749
|
2.5
|
-19.1
|
The municipalities where there has been a decrease in overall crime are shown in red. The increases/decreases can be compared with the overall increase for Faro District of 1.8% compared with 2016 and the national increase of 3.3%. There are, however, wide variations between municipalities.Noteworthy is that despite increased tourism in Albufeira and disorder through "Portugal Invasion" in June 2017, crime has continued to decrease in the town.
In 2017 a total of 46.3% of overall crime was concentrated in the central Algarve in the three municipalities: Albufeira, Loulé and Faro. In 1993, 53.7 of crimes were concentrated in these three municipalities and in 2001 - 49.3%.
Although crimes are lower in the western and eastern Algarve, the distribution over the last 23 years has tended to shift slightly in those directions, probably in line with population expansion.
|
How you can help - Donation for crime prevention in Portugal
Each week Safe Communities Portugal provides advice and assistance to those who have contacted the association. No charge is made for this service. If you have benefited from this then why not make a small donation in return. Safe Communities Portugal is a non-profit association run by unpaid volunteers. Our services are free of charge and the association is funded by donations. Your generosity by making a donation to help maintain and further develop the work of the association and thereby help keep portugal a safe place to live and visit would be appreciated. Any amount helps.
Three ways to make a donation
Paypal - If you would like to make a donation through Paypal please visit our Welcome page and click on the "donate" button.
By cheque - If you wish to donate by cheque the bank account name is "Associacao SCP Safe Communities Portugal" and cheques can be posted to Caixa 207-Z, Alfontes, Boliqueime, 8100-062, Algarve.
By interbank transfer - If you wish to donate through inter bank transfer please use the same name with the following account details NIB 0033 0000 4542 9864 44705.
All donations should be marked "Donation for crime prevention". Thank you.
|
Safe Communities Portugal - Regular Features
Just a reminder that in addition to our website and Facebook page, Safe Communities Portugal produces regular crime prevention features to help the community. These are
in the Algarve Resident and the next one is out on 3rd May 2018.
We also have a 5 minute feature named "Crimecheck" on Owen Gee's Solid Gold Sunday which is usually aired at 0915 hrs on the last Sunday of each month. Recently we have more features than usual to cover the case of Missing Person John Bainbridge as well as land cleaning issues.
The next one is on 29th April covering the 2017 Crime figures.
|
How your friends can obtain up to date Crime Prevention advice
Please pass on details of Safe Communities Algarve to neighbours and friends so they to can benefit from the up to date crime prevention advice. Simply ask them to click on the following link to obtain the latest newsletter: www.safecommunitiesportugal.com This is a free service.
David Thomas
President
Safe Communities Portugal
4 April 2018
|
|
STAY CONNECTED
|
|
|
|
|
