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Portugal´s only registered non-profit crime prevention and civil protection association providing dedicated information and support services to the community
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Newsletter - February 5th 2021 |
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Welcome
This newsletter is mainly about volunteerism, something we know about given the nature of our work over the last 9 years!
In this case, it is all about helping the national health service here in Portugal namely the SNS.
Given the acute situation regarding Covid-19, and in order to help relieve the overstretched health service, there is now a system in place where people can serve as volunteers in a number of capacities.
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David Thomas, MBE
President
Safe Communities Portugal
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If you would like to do so and have the necessary experience then you can apply online. The details of how to do this are explained in this newsletter.
Also the SNS wishes to engage holders of academic degrees conferred by a foreign higher education institution in the field of medicine, which would apply to doctors and nurses. This is also explained in this newsletter.
We also need at Safe Communities a volunteer with an interest in statistics and analysing simple data. Any help would be appreciated and will also help the community.
Given the situation concerning Covid-19 and the State of Emergency law in place concerning confinement, there have been changes concerning condominium joint owners meetings and this is also included.
Our thanks to Leanne Turner also, concerning the Crime and Crime Prevention reports.
Lastly, a reminder of the ban on driving between counties will again apply between 8 pm today Friday and 5 am on Monday on the mainland. The police are stepping up enforcement (as you can see from the report in this newsletter) so will be out and about. The exemptions can be downloaded here as outlined in the previous Decree. Exemptions in English here
We wish you a very Safe weekend
David Thomas
President, Safe Communities Portugal
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Applying to become an SNS volunteer
If you are not in a risk group or live with someone who is in a risk group and are at home, in good health and unable to work, know that you can help the National Health Service (SNS) in fighting the pandemic. This moment is one of unprecedented crisis, with more than 5,000 people hospitalised with Covid-19, more than 600 in Intensive Care and so many other patients with other diseases to assist.
There is much more to do in a health care network than is up to doctors, nurses and other professionals, and things that can be done remotely. Through your institution, company or individually you can collaborate or apply for SNS volunteers, contributing with equipment, services or other specific support.
It's all on the SNS website, in the area created for this purpose with the title: Do you want to help the National Health Service? Just fill in the form through the link below with your name, telephone contact, email, company or institution name (if applicable) and what kind of support you can provide.
The options are: general support, laboratory tests, clinical support, physiotherapy, medicine, psychology, IT, hospital care and nursing. From unemployed and students to psychologists and engineers.
Staying at home and going out just for the essentials is already a big help but if you can and want to do more, you know, you don't have to sit by.
Make your application direct to SNS on their website here
(The process is shown in the pictures attached to this post.)
The SNS Volunteers portal is here
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For those holders of academic degrees conferred by a foreign higher education institution in the field of medicine
If you have the above academic qualifications from another country which would apply to doctors or nurses licensed in another country, you can now work with the national health service (at least for the next year!). See the details here:
Article 7
Reinforcement of human resources in health units
1 - The establishments that provide health care to the National Health Service may, exceptionally, contract permanent resolution, up to the limit of one year, of holders of academic degrees conferred by a foreign higher education institution in the field of medicine when they prove that they have already passed the written examination of the specific recognition process for the integrated study cycle of the master's in medicine.
2 - The establishments providing health care referred to in the preceding paragraph may, exceptionally, proceed with the hiring of resolute term, up to the limit of one year, of holders of academic degrees conferred by a foreign higher education institution in the field of nursing, at identical to the Bachelor's degrees awarded by Portuguese higher education institutions, when they prove one of the following conditions:
a) Have completed a cycle of studies with at least 3600 teaching hours, of which 1800 hours in clinical teaching;
b) Retain more than five years of professional experience in the clinical area.
3 - The exercise of professional functions in Portugal after the termination of the contracts referred to in the preceding paragraphs requires registration with the competent professional order, under the terms provided for in the respective statutes.
4 - Students enrolled in study cycles in the field of nursing at the date of entry into force of this decree who are already holders of a foreign academic degree can be credited with the full amount of training and professional experience duly proven, without the need to observe limits defined in article 45 of Decree-Law no. 74/2006 , of 24 March, in its current wording.
5 - Hiring under this article complies with the other legally applicable terms regarding the hiring of health professionals.
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Volunteer work with Safe Communities Portugal
Volunteer required to analyse statistics
Safe Communities provides an extensive and valuable service to the community through its well established volunteer system.
We now need a volunteer with an aptitude for statistics to analyse data and charts and produce information for the community in a brief easy to read format. Some understanding of written Portuguese would be helpful.
This would be very useful in helping to keep the community informed, particularly at present concerning Covid-19
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Condominiums – Conducting joint owners meetings
Given the situation concerning Covid-19 and the State of Emergency law in place concerning confinement, there have been changes concerning condominium joint owners meetings Decree No. 4-B / 2021, Published 1st February with changes as follows
Article 5a
1 - The condominium assemblies are held in accordance with the rules applicable to corporate events, in force at each moment and for the respective territorial constituency.
2 - Without prejudice to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it is permitted and encouraged to hold joint meetings by means of distance communication in the year 2021, under the following terms:
a) Whenever the administration of the condominium so determines or the majority of the tenants so require, the assembly of tenants takes place through means of distance communication, preferably by videoconference, or in a mixed model, in person and by videoconference;
b) If any of the tenants is unable, reasonably, to participate in the assembly of tenants by means of distance communication and has communicated this impossibility to the administration of the condominium, it is up to the latter to ensure the necessary means for that purpose, under penalty the meeting has to be held in person or in a mixed model.
3 - The signature and subscription of the minutes may be made by qualified electronic signature or by handwritten signature, affixed to the original document or to a digitized document containing other signatures.
4 - For the purposes of the provisions of this article, the declaration of the condominium, sent by email, to the address of the administration of the condominium, as it agrees with the contents of the minutes sent to him by the same way, is valid as a subscription, which must be attached, as an attachment, to the original of the minutes.
5 - The administration of the condominium is responsible for choosing one or more of the means provided for in paragraph a) of paragraph 2, as well as defining the order for the collection of signatures or the collection of statements by email, in order to the affixing of signatures on a single document.
6 - The joint-owners' meetings and the signature or subscription of the respective minutes that were carried out before the date of entry into force of the present regime are valid and effective as long as the procedure provided for in the previous numbers has been observed.
Informal English translation for information
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Crime prevention and enforcement
Appeal by the PSP to report fake products regarding Vaccines
Only Serviço Nacional de Saúde provides (genuine) Covid-19 vaccines.
The PSP state on their Facebook page
“We appeal to you to inform us of any other means of making available, in-person or on the internet, as it will certainly be illegal:
Scams: with sale of tampered product (at best it will be a placebo and at worst it may contain harmful chemical elements to health),
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dentity theft: many frauds with non-existent or fake products intend to access buyers personal data. Knowing a person's e-mail, name, date of birth, address and phone number, it is possible for a third party to assume that identity.
Please be aware and report”
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Covid-19 - More than one hundred people detained under the State of Emergency
More than 100 people were arrested between January 15th and 30th by the GNR and PSP for the crime of disobedience, 40 of which for breach of the obligation of mandatory confinement, for failure to comply with the measures provided for in the state of emergency, imposed due to Covid-19 pandemic.
This data was released this Thursday by the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) following a meeting on Wednesday under the State of Emergency Monitoring Framework.
According to the figures made at the meeting, GNR and PSP carried out 14,242 inspection actions in the second half of January, in compliance with the provisions of the Decree that regulates the State of Emergency.
Inspection actions led to the closure of 204 establishments for non-compliance with the established rules and a total of 3,567 administrative infraction notices, of which 1,592 relate to the general duty of home collection.
Of the records filed, 740 are due to non-compliance with the use of a mask on public roads and spaces, 276 due to non-compliance with the limitation of circulating between municipalities, 173 due to consumption of alcoholic beverages on public roads and 95 due to the rules of occupation, capacity, permanence, distance physical and means of appointment in places open to the public.
GNR and PSP also instituted 91 records for non-compliance with the mandatory use of masks in, public establishments and others, 72 due to the rules for the operation of restaurants and similar, 71 for non-compliance with the rules for the sale of alcoholic beverages and 59 for failure to close facilities and establishments.
53 cases were also initiated for failure to perform SARS-CoV-2 tests, 50 due to those relating to the restriction, suspension or closure of activities or separation of people who are not sick and 47 for failure to comply with the prohibition on the consumption of meals or products or near establishments
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Crime Report by our special correspondent, Leanne Turner
Have you heard of Phishing?
The sheer amount of news coverage surrounding the current pandemic of the Covid-19 virus has created a new danger - phishing attacks that aim to exploit people's fears about the virus.
Phishing campaigns (by email, SMS or social networks) are carried out under the image of official entities such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF or research centres and laboratories in the health sector, with contents alluding to the pandemic, including files attached, and oriented to capture victims' personal data or to infect their devices with malware.
GNR advises:
- Be wary of all emails you receive;
- Avoid accessing links that are indicated in a suspicious email;
- Be suspicious of any email or text message that refers to urgent requests for information about the virus;
- Keep antivirus and firewall updated;
- Never send personal or financial information by email;
- Regularly update your computer's protection with antivirus, antispyware, and firewall programs.
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Silves - Arrested for domestic violence
The Faro Territorial Command, through the Center for Research and Support for Specific Victims (NIAVE) of Portimão, on January 19th, arrested a 67-year-old man for domestic violence in the municipality of Silves.
Following an investigation into domestic violence, the officers found that the suspect, when drunk, physically assaulted the victim, his 63-year-old wife, by threatening her with her life and threatening her with a firearm, which caused her to be afraid and very insecure.
During police investigation, a home search was carried out, and the following items were seized:
• A shotgun;
• A 6.35mm caliber pistol;
• Ammunition of different calibers.
The detainee was presented for an initial hearing at the Silves Judicial Court, having been subjected to the coercion measures of term of identity and residence and subject to the treatment of alcohol dependence.
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Albufeira - Arrested for drug trafficking
The Faro Territorial Command, through the Territorial Sub-Detachment of Albufeira, in January, arrested a 66-year-old man for drug trafficking in Albufeira.
During the police investigation, the officers intercepted a vehicle, approaching the driver who was acting suspiciously. After a search of the suspect, it was possible to ascertain that he was in possession of a narcotic product, liamba.
During police investigations, the military conducted a house search of the suspect's residence, which culminated in the seizure of a cannabis plant and 77 doses of liamba, which were hidden inside shoe boxes.
The detainee was charged, and the facts were referred to the Albufeira Judicial Court.
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Lost Woman in the Madeira mountains mobilized 14 officers and 6 vehicles
In total, 14 officers and six vehicles were involved in the rescue of the 33-year-old Polish national, who was lost overnight in the mountains of Madeira.
The Regional Command of PSP Madeira, the Santana Volunteer Firefighters and the Forestry Police communicated, through a notification sent to the newsrooms, the steps related to the rescue and the rescue carried out for a 33-year-old Polish citizen, on vacation in Madeira Island.
Back on Tuesday 19th January, at 7 pm, the citizen who had planned to take the pedestrian route in Ribeiro Frio - Pico do Areeiro - Pico Ruivo - Curral das Freiras, contacted the national emergency number (112) alerting them that she was lost and needed help.
The PSP Brigade of Search and Relief, Rescue and Rescue in the Mountain was immediately activated and informed the Regional Civil Protection Service, which activated the Santana Volunteer Firefighters and the Forest Police.
Aware of the danger to life in which the citizen found herself due to adverse climatic conditions, with extremely low temperatures, snow, strong wind and rain, the search procedures were immediately initiated; the teams working on the trails of the pedestrian paths started in Curral das Freiras and Achada do Teixeira with a view to ascertain the quickest route to the location and assistance to the victim.
Working together, with the possibility of telephone contact with the victim, and through geo-referencing, it was possible for the Public Security Police to proceed to her exact location, allowing the victim to be spotted by 10:00 pm next to Vereda Lombo dos Portis, off-track and in an area near cliffs.
Due to the dangerous and difficult area to access, and even though she was in serious risk of falling, her rescue was only accomplished at 1:00 am, by the Santana Volunteer Firefighters, whose resources allowed them, to approach and help the victim safely.
The woman, who was already in a state of hypothermia, was then evacuated by the trail back to Achada do Teixeira. The rescue mission was finally completed by 4:00 am, and the victim was transported by the Santana Volunteer Firefighters to the Health Center emergency room at Machico for medical evaluation.
According to the regional authorities, the success of this operation was only possible by the “excellent collaboration” of the three institutions involved, coordinated on the ground by the Santana Volunteer Firefighters, who carried out their action for nine hours in a rescue in extremely difficult conditions, due to the weather conditions and the terrain where the rescue took place.
Six members of the PSP Mountain Search and Rescue Brigade participated in this operation; 6 officers of the Santana Volunteer Fire Department and two Forest Police Guards, with the support of 6 vehicles.
The regional authorities also call on all citizens to never carry out this type of activity alone, with adverse weather conditions or without the proper clothing.
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Thank You
I thank our volunteer team members, who are involved with the Covid-19 work namely: Clare, Daniel, Elise, Eliana, Fernanda, Jane, Jennie, Jenny, Louise, Mike, and Sven, plus our key players who help keep the association running: Carlos, Colin, Jim, Lilia, Peter and Raoul.
Stay Safe everyone.
David Thomas
President, Safe Communities Portugal
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A Reminder - Social distancing, hygiene and the wearing of face masks are the best ways to prevent the spread of the disease.
If you know others who would like to obtain our newsletter free of charge click here
Lastly we thank all our sponsors (listed at the end of this newsletter) who help keep Safe Communities going and developing.
David Thomas
President, Safe Communities Portugal
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Volunteers needed to help our team with Covid-19
Monitor the news in Portugal and give us reports. Would you like to help us?
SCP can only publish correct and confirmed information. This means that we have great demands on both our sources and our volunteers.
Lastly we are looking for volunteers who have experience in either analysis or research type work who are used to valuing news and facts, to supplement our team during this period of crisis.
Precisely we need help in supplementing our team providing short daily situation reports for events happening in Portugal
You must also be able to write good English. If you feel you are the right person and want to contribute under Covid-19, send us a message here please with a brief description of your experience.
Together we can help keep the community in Portugal up to date!
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IF YOU ARE PLEASED WITH OUR SERVICES PLEASE MAKE A DONATION
During the coronavirus our team of volunteers have worked 7 days a week to provide you with the best news and advice.
We do not receive or expect payment of these services as that is the nature of our work as a non-profit volunteer association
However we have incurred extra costs through upgrades to website, translation work, printing and administrative costs for example.
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 Please visit our donation page here with all the details and how money is spent
Paypal - If you would like to make a donation through Paypal please visit our donation page and click on the "Paypal 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.
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How your friends can obtain up to date Crime Prevention advice
Please pass on details of Safe Communities Portugal to neighbours and friends so they to can benefit from the up to date crime prevention advice. Simply ask them to click on this link to obtain the latest newsletter: This is a free service.
David Thomas, MBE
President, Safe Communities Portugal
5th February 2021
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Thank you to all of our sponsors: |
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