Independent councillors Luís Filipe Santos and Jorge Afonso Freitas have announced they will question the Municipal Executive's intended model for a new Municipal Police force at the next Funchal Municipal Assembly meeting.
They believe recent statements by the vice-president regarding a force "with fewer powers than those in Lisbon and Porto" raise more questions than answers. The councillors aim to clarify what a "lighter" Municipal Police force means in practical terms, questioning if this refers solely to its organic structure or also to a reduction in its oversight and intervention capabilities.
Among other issues, the councillors want to know if the future Municipal Police will have the authority to monitor vehicle noise, abusive occupation of public spaces, irregular parking, environmental protection, urban planning enforcement, and violations of municipal regulations. They argue that before creating a new structure, it's essential to assess the current functioning of municipal oversight and that reorganizing existing services might be more urgent.
Furthermore, they inquire about the planned human resources, financial impact, coordination with the PSP (Public Security Police), and the specific objectives justifying the new police force's creation, warning against the risk of establishing an administrative structure without solving concrete citizen problems.
