In a statement, the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the PSP said that as part the program that has existed for some years, the police will commit staff from the Rapid Intervention Teams, Prevention and Immediate Reaction Teams, Traffic, Cycle Patrols, and teams from tourism and security stations.

The Always Present Police - Safer Summer 2023 program, which started on June 15, aims to prevent "criminal occurrences".

“This year, in addition to the significant increase in the normal flow of people in the summer season, Portugal hosts World Youth Day, a major religious event that takes place as part of the area of responsibility of the PSP and will be attended by thousands of pilgrims, coming from around the world”.

Therefore, the PSP intends to prevent thefts from people and inside of vehicles, guarantee the normal flow of traffic and “above all, tranquillity and public order”.

The PSP will also carry out road prevention and inspection operations, with the aim of guaranteeing and reinforcing the safety of all road users.

The Verão Seguro program, which takes place annually in the Algarve, was extended to Lisbon, Porto and beaches with greater tourist pressure due to the increase in tourists and World Youth Day.

In information sent to Lusa on June 13, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) stated that it decided this year to extend the usual Algarve Seguro program, since a “particularly challenging summer is expected, due to the expected increase in tourists and the high number of young pilgrims who will participate in World Youth Day (WYD)”, which takes place in Lisbon in the first week of August.

According to the Ministry supervised by José Luís Carneiro, the Verão Seguro program is designed annually and adapted to the specific circumstances of time and territory, which includes “multiple dimensions of security”, namely policing, preventing and fighting fires, border control and road safety.