Funchal's Mayor, Jorge Carvalho, has reiterated his intention to establish a Municipal Police force, advocating for its officers to receive police training, ideally from the same institutions that train the Public Security Police (PSP). Carvalho confirmed ongoing discussions to amend legislation, which currently restricts such forces to Lisbon and Porto, enabling the capitals of Madeira and the Azores to have bodies with police powers.
If legislative changes, requiring approval from the national government and parliament, are not achieved, the Funchal Municipal Chamber will aim to implement the project within the existing legal framework. The plan involves the municipality recruiting and funding the training, ensuring officers can handle various situations without immediate PSP intervention. The estimated annual cost for the Chamber is one million euros.
Councillor Rui Caetano (PS) deemed the initiative, previously proposed, "long overdue" and stressed the importance of credibility and coordination with the PSP and video surveillance systems. Independent councillor Luís Filipe Santos questioned the notion of a "light police force" and its intended competencies, as well as the future of municipal inspectors.
