The commander of the Public Security Police of Lisbon defended the need for "less alarmist discourse" regarding security in the city. The position comes at a time when crime data in Portugal has been the subject of public debate.
According to police data for the first eight months of 2026, overall crime in the country increased 2.9% compared to the same period the previous year. This increase contrasts with the evolution of violent and serious crime, which registered a decrease of 0.4% in the same period.
The numbers suggest a mixed scenario regarding security, with growth in petty and medium crime, but a reduction in the most serious crimes. The police leadership understands that public discourse should not alarm the population in light of this data.
