Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Portugal’s Crime Wave

Our Portuguese correspondent Afonso Henriques has translated a batch of material about crime in his country. As he acknowledges, not all of the criminal activity mentioned is due to “cultural enrichment” issues. However, a large portion of it is probably immigrant-related, and in any case the material points out the worsening law-and-order situation in Portugal.

Here’s what Afonso says by way of introduction:

Baron, I don’t want to harm tourism in Portugal, but I think you may like this news about the preparations for the summertime.

Note that although some of this criminality is committed by ethnic minorities, maybe even the majority of it, it’s not exclusively due to diversity. This is more about the preparations for summertime. I’ve been collecting some stories that happened this week and will send them to you in the following days. I also found a very good history of anti-diverse-people-power that took place recently, and I’ll then send it to you.

And this is his translation of the July 4th article in Correio da Manhã:

Security: 140 arrested by Lisbon’s Judiciary Police (PJ) since the beginning of the year due to violent crimes

Since the beginning of the year, the Judiciary Police (PJ), in Lisbon only, have arrested at least 140 criminals who committed violent crimes. According to what CM (the newspaper Correio da Manhã) has gathered from police sources, only half of the suspects remained in preventive arrest, and some 20% (close to 30 detainees) are waiting for a judgment in domiciliary arrest.

The data show a stabilization of the number of arrests due to violent crimes, but the authorities are very worried about the number of weapons that are being diverted from their legitimate owners. Each day on average four firearms are stolen, which could be used in violent crimes, like carjacking or robberies of gas stations and banks. Hunters are even more of a risk group, once the lack of care of many of them has led the weapons to fall into wrong hands.

Last year, the country lived through an abnormally violent summer. In August, robberies with firearms took place one after the other, of which there were two well known examples of extreme violence: the robbery of the BES [Banco Espírito Santo — Holy Spirit Bank, by two Brazilians] of Campolide, Lisbon, solved with a PSP [Public Security Police] bullet; and the attack to the Prosegur [security company] van at the A2 [highway], in which an armed group got away with millions of Euros after it blew away with the back door of the bullet-proof vehicle [there’s no certainty about who committed this robbery, but the most well-known and informed thesis claims it was a group of sophisticated Eastern Europeans and French guys, also with some Portuguese connections].

The official data show that in the third trimester of the year (the summer months) violent criminality rose more than 16%, a substantial portion of the overall 10% rise in criminality last year, which concerns the most violent cases.

Fearing a new wave of violent crimes this summer, the authorities have concentrated their efforts. The sharing of information between the PSP, the GNR, and the PJ has been enhanced and the results have begun to appear: various groups dedicated to the robbery of ATMs, gas stations, or carjacking have been shut down. But a police source revealed to CM that these gangs are very unstable and the rotation of elements makes the police action more difficult.

The most sensitive areas for the occurrence of violent crimes have already been identified: The Sintra line, Oeiras, Cascais, the Southern Bank of the Tagus and the Great Oporto, that have deserved a special attention from the authorities.

Violent crime went down the first trimester of the year, but registered a light rise in the second trimester. The police guarantee an increased effort so that this year’s summer is calmer than that of 2008.

GOE [Group for Special Operations] SHOT TO KILL LIVE ON TV

In August 2008, the country saw on TV the end of an assault to the BES [a bank] of Campolide, solved through bullets of the PSP. The two robbers that had taken two functionaries hostages were shot. One died, the other, Wellington, will receive his sentence this Tuesday.

SPECIAL UNITS SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Both the PSP and the GNR promise to decentralize their respective special units this summer. The Special Unit of the PSP (UEP) will continue to maintain, as it has done the whole year, a strategy of reinforcement of patrolling in every police command in the country, through the agents of the Intervention Body (CI).

The fluctuating population of the Algarve in the summertime equally [3 to 10 times the resident population] forces the relocation of CI’s agents to the main beach cities of the region. The GOE will also, whenever needed, augment the commands responsible by the patrolling of areas with a greater influx of tourists.

The PSP also will reinforce the policiamento à civil [undercover agents passing as average civilians], assigned to the transportation terminals of Lisbon and Oporto, and also in the localities and events with a greater concentration of tourists this summer.

The GNR, like the PSP, proposes to relocate their Intervention Unit (UI).. Since yesterday the 60 military men of the UI, trained in special operations, are keeping the public order and, using “cinotechnic” patrolling, are located in the GNR of Faro (Algarve), ready for any occurrence.

A commensurate relocation of the UI into other areas of the west coast of the country. The UI is equally charged with guaranteeing the safety of popular markets, religious festivities and the summer festivals happening in areas patrolled by the GNR.

“MORE AGENTS IN THE SUMMER” (Carlos Anjos, Union of Criminal Investigation Functionaries)

Correio da Manhã — Should we expect a wave of violent crime like that of the summer of 2008?

Carlos Anjos — It’s very difficult to make predictions, because nobody knows what will happen. Violent criminality has even gone down, but we don’t know what to expect this summer.

— Did the Judiciary Police (PJ) take special measures for this period?
- - - - - - - - -
— What happened is that there was concern about staff vacation schedule, so that more staff could be working during the summer.

— Is there any measure that should have been taken to prevent criminality?

— What we have long been against is the alteration of the penal laws of 2007, that limited the efficacy of the police action by raising obstacles to preventive arrest. These legislative changes never should have happened and need to be repealed.

ADVICE

DO NOT RESIST

If threatened with a firearm, do not resist and follow the instructions of the attackers. Remember that no goods or money can compensate for the loss of a life.

BE AWARE

Try to concentrate on the assaults and register any element that can help the investigators to identify the perpetrators later. If possible, note the car’s number plate.

REPORT TO THE POLICE

Always report to the authorities the crime committed against you. The information may be valuable for identifying the criminals.

SEARCH FOR HELP

If you feel that your car is being followed, immediately drive towards the closest police station and ask for help.

AVOID ACCIDENTS

If you come across an accident in an isolated place at night, do not stop. Call the authorities; they will investigate the case.

TAKE CARE

Try to travel with the windows closed and the doors locked, especially at night. This can be important to avoid carjacking.

NOTES

A2: THE ROBBERY OF THE CENTURY

A group presumed to be formed by foreign citizens attacked a bullet-proof van traveling on the A2 highway. They used explosives and weapons of war to get away with three million euros in cash.

SETÚBAL: GOLDSMITH KILLED

An armed robbery to a “precious-metals-shop” in Setúbal ended with the death of the owner of the shop, attacked by a Brazilian robber. The robber was arrested by the PJ days later.

CRIMES: POLICE MOBILIZATION

The violent crimes during the summer of 2008 forced a general mobilization of the security forces. In the PJ, many inspectors had to return from vacations earlier.

A note from Afonso Henriques:

But the police are not very happy here. I’ll leave you this video and the translation. I really think that the video sucks and it’s nothing special but it shows that there is a general (and strong and more-than-justified) discontent among the police.

This happened early last month.

The translation:

(Crowd): Liars! Liars! Liars!

(Reporter): Hats for the Prime Minister. It was the way found by these police officers to call for the attention of José Sócrates (the Prime Minister). They marched by the hundreds from the Assembly of the Republic towards the official residence of the Prime Minister to say they are tired of waiting. They accuse the government of not wanting to discuss the proposals they have presented for the status of the police. Among the police officers, spirits are high, and that could be seen on the streets of Lisbon.

(Police 1): Ah! You m**********s!

(Police 2): Calm! Calm!

(Police 1): You’re assassins!

(White Mustache Police): Who the hell are you pushing!? We’re not going away from here!

(Male Reporter): What do you have to say to the the Minister and to Mr. José Sócrates?

(Police 3): That they are great liars. They promise and do not do what they’ve promised, and we are here really to emphasize that.

(Male Reporter): And the hat, what can the Engineer José Sócrates do with this hat?

(Police 3): Put it down onto his head, to cover his eyes and the shame he’s going through and the shame he’s making us go through.

(Old woman with police hat): He should think more about the police officers and see that the police officers do their day-to-day job, and protect his back many times, and work too much under the hat.

(Male Reporter): And are the policemen victims of injustice?

(Old woman with police hat): A lot.

(Reporter): They want a pay raise, a risk subsidy and early retirement at the age of 55 or after 36 years of service. Exigencies that will not stop, even if they will have to fight for it by other means. The police officers now promise a strike for next month.

5 comments:

Rocha said...

Afonso,

How much of the crime is due to brazilians? How much by africans? How much brazilians commit crimes more than portuguese? If you have this data is important to share.

Do brazilians really behave very badly in Portugal?

Thanks.

Afonso Henriques said...

"A2: THE ROBBERY OF THE CENTURY
A group presumed to be formed by foreign citizens attacked a bullet-proof van traveling on the A2 highway. They used explosives and weapons of war to get away with three million euros in cash."

I know it's wrong and all but man, I admire these robbers. It was a clean robbery, no deaths or injuries, they intrecepted an armored vehicle and with explosives blown the back door away and escaped with THREE MILLION EUROS IN CASH!!! They also had nice machine guns just in case. They HAVE NOT BEEN CAUGHT. Man, the aduacity! The perfect crime, so far! And the money belonged to a big insurence comapany so...

Afonso Henriques said...

Rocha,
First, I don't have that data because there are no statistics. But Portuguese Nationality is now rather easy to get and there was a recent study that came to the conclusion that 40% of violent crimes are committed by foreigners. Add to this the number of "Nationalised ethnic minorities" who are always counted in the Portuguese category.
Also, I'd say that at least the "common criminality" - minor thefts, physical assaults, etc, are in a majority committed by those same second generation "Nationalised" descendents of immigrants. (And if you add the Gypsies, I'd be astonished if the majority of this criminality were not committed only by these groups.)

"How much brazilians commit crimes more than portuguese?"

I will really try to answer your questions, Rocha.
And if you want me to answer you seriously and with no PC, I have to answer only with what I see around because I have little proofs to back up what I say.

First, I don't know if you have an idea but the Brazilian immigrants here are very diverse. Brazilians may be the best and the worst immigrants depending on many factors. It's up to the person first, and it is so especially for the Brazilians more than for every other community. We have to subdivide Brazilians...
And there is also a big mutual confusion. Most of the Brazilian immigrants have no idea what Portugal is or the difficulties they will face. And, for instance, the leftist governments have sold us this as the average Brazilian immigrant in Portugal.
As you can imagine, only a tiny proportion of the Brazilians who come here are represented by her. And I doubt most Brazilian here have more than two things in common with her, except for the dreams part.

Notice what she says: "When I came to Portugal, I just wanted to work. Now, I am even able to dream..."

This is in contrast with the vast majority of Brazilians who come here with pre concieved ideas that they are coming to an El Dorado. Their dreams, most of the time, are rapidly crushed.

(to be continued)

Afonso Henriques said...

(continuing)

Do Brazilians commit more crimes than the Portuguese?
It really depends of the region of the country. In most of it, there are few Brazilians and thus, they don't commit much crime. In fact, in this pre-multicultural areas crime is very low.
Then, there are some regions in which Brazilians are the main problematic group. I will highlight especially the Península of Setúbal.

Let me divide that Peninsula in two main regions: The Industrial, Urban North, part of Greater Lisbon;
And the rest, developed just enough and semi-rural, with one medium city (+100 thousand inhabitants), Setúbal.
Socially, it can be divided in three parts:
The semi-rural regions with many second semi-luxury homes that are empty most of the year (an invitation to crime);
The urban area of the North with 500 thousand people and some ethnic no-go-zones;
The city of Setúbal proper, which unfortunately has been enriched in its poor neighbourhoods.
And Setúbal is full of Brazilians who commit a majority of the crime there. Not that all Brazilians there are the wrong kind but there's a big concentration of the wrong kind of Brazilians there.
The North of the Peninsula has other criminal communities but the one with the biggest impact is the Brazilian one. Again, the wrong kind of Brazilians gathers in some areas there.
And from there they raid the whole Peninsula. I'd say that Brazilians are the plague in this Peninsula, man. Unfortunately.
I'd say that brown Brazilians, very light Africans and all kinds of somewhat Native American looking people in this region (people I presume to be Brazilians) amount to some 15% and that white people with Brazilian accent are little few than 5%.
Also, you know they are the wrong kind simply because of the low percentage of white Brazilians. I'd say that from the Brazilian immigrants here, one third are white and white Brazilians are the majority of Brazilians in the interior and North of the country. Probably, second or sometimes even first generation of Portuguese emigrants to Brazil.

Another area where the Brazilians have become a visible problem is in the coast from Lisbon to Cascais. Ethnic gangs, very muscular guys posing as bad boys, drug traffic, you know… They think they must rule the beach.
And, do you like Eça de Queiroz?
Nowadays, Brazilian women have deposed those of Andalusia and are prostitutes in all of Portugal. And, like the ones from Southern Spain in the XIX century, Brazilian women are nowadays considered easy sex and marriage destroyers. And in my opinion, for the men here Brazilian women are instantly more attractive once they discover the women are Brazilian.

Afonso Henriques said...

"How much by africans?"

A lot...

"Do brazilians really behave very badly in Portugal?"

I think Brazilians simply have a love-hate relation with Portugal. And it's easy for that relation to become one sided hate.

And we have recieved some Brazilians who were already criminals in Brazil, or were already very poor or with little chances in Brazil. They will have a hard time to compete here in Europe, and that's not what they have in mind when they come here.

Just go to the Youtube, there are lots of Brazilian made hate videos against Portugal. Probabily the majority from Brazilians living in Portugal. And I'm not referring the good old (although I don't think they are that great) jokes about Portuguese. I'm talking about serious stuff.

And, one factor that has given a lot of visibility to Brazilian criminality: You know how hard life his in Brazil's poor areas. How violent life is.
And as so, those Brazilians coming from those places, are very easy to pull the trigger.
If the robberie goes bad, they are prepared to shoot to kill and will not hesitate.

And if you are interested in this topic, I think you missed this comment from me and I'm still thinking it makes a lot of sense.
And if you dare to see the videos, Wanderleys are not a majority but they may be some 5 to 10% which is a lot. (Of course real life Wanderleys are not that exagerated, this is after all a caricature)

If you want some other facts:

Portugal and Brazil are rivals. In football I only admit Portugal to lose with the ten best National teams and I do not tolerate defeats against our rivals: Spain and Brazil :)
The last time Portugal went to play in Brazil, Portugal scored first. I was mad because we eventually lost 6-2. I was ashamed. That's rivalry.
But what about that Brazilian football player - I think he was even white - who when scored screamed "sons of whores" against the Portuguese. What for? That was hate.

In one internet forum I changed opinions with one Brazilian from Curitiba. He then said to me in private: Do you know what we say here to those who go to Portugal? Stay away from other Brazilians there, they are no good.
So I am surprised that you're somewhat shocked that Brazilians don't behave too good in Portugal (they are the sames who don't behave good in Brazil too!).

For instance, one of the most visible acts of criminality last Summer ended up live and was perpetrated by Brazilians.

Also, see this. They say it's all a joke. I don't think so...

I must say in the end that the best immigrants we have recieved, as groups, are firstly Portuguese returning from emigration and in second there are non-Gypsy Eastern Europeans and some kinds of Brazilians. But Brazilians as a group do not exist. They must be subdivided. Some become average Portuguese with no effort, others are some of the worst most vicious criminals with lots of hate against Portugal (a hate that usually grows according to how much time they pass here).

I hope I have answered...