The commander of the Lisbon Public Security Police, Chief Superintendent Luís Elias, publicly advocated for a more restrained approach in communicating about security issues. In an interview with the Portuguese news agency, the police official stated that security problems should be addressed through effective and coherent work, in partnership with various social actors, and not through alarmist speeches directed at the public.
Luís Elias specified that security matters "are done through work" and that there should possibly be "less public discourse" on the topic. The commander considered that overly alarmist communication may not be the most effective way to address security challenges in the Portuguese capital.
The chief superintendent's position arises in the context of debates about urban security in Lisbon, where the PSP is responsible for enforcement and maintenance of public order. The interview with the news agency allowed Luís Elias to express his vision on how police authorities should communicate with the population about these issues.
