Albufeira, Faro, Portugal, July 29, 2025 (Lusa) - Albufeira will receive 40 additional National Republican Guard (GNR) officers starting this week, the local authority has announced, thanking the government for its positive response to the request made by the mayor last week.
The Algarve local authority recalled in a statement released on Monday, that the mayor of Albufeira, José Carlos Rolo, made the request for reinforcements to the interior minister at a meeting held on Tuesday, and now the minister, Maria Lúcia Amaral, has authorised the deployment of 40 military personnel to increase security in one of the country's main tourist destinations.
Security in Albufeira has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, with reports of disturbances caused by tourists, although the local authority denies that there has been an increase in crime in the district, arguing that crime statistics per number of inhabitants do not reflect the increase in the number of people in the district, which quadruples in the summer due to visitors.
“The government has responded positively to the request from the mayor of Albufeira, José Carlos Rolo, by providing 40 extra GNR officers and various support equipment, including motorcycles and other vehicles, as well as horses for patrolling,” the local authority said, adding that the additional resources will be “operational” and “start work” this week.
The Algarve council highlighted the importance of the “awareness” and “appeal” made by José Carlos Rolo to the interior minister.
“The understanding of the need to protect, under any circumstances, the second largest national tourist destination at its peak of visitor arrivals, a situation explained to the interior minister, led to this reinforcement, which will greatly increase security in the region,” argued the council in the region of Faro.
The mayor, quoted in the statement, reiterated that the crime rate attributed to Albufeira is being “reported in an alarmist manner” and “is false” because it does not take into account the actual number of people in the region.
Crime in Albufeira was back in the news last Thursday after the GNR announced the arrest of a group of five 17-year-olds for robbery and violent assault on another 18-year-old, reported about a week earlier in the city.
The young people appeared in court on Friday and were ordered to report to the authorities every two weeks as a coercive measure, the GNR said after questioning the detainees, who were also banned from travelling to the district and from leaving their respective areas of residence, as additional measures applied by the Portimão court.
Although it rejects the idea that there has been an increase in crime, the local authority considers that the increase in the population increases the risk of disorder, often influenced by excessive alcohol consumption, and that increased policing helps to minimise the feeling of insecurity among the general public and respond more effectively to any incidents.
MHC/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
