Lisbon Police Urged to Rebuild Trust with Communities After Tragic Incident

Police Must Reconnect with Communities

Sub-Inspector Aurora Dantier emphasized that the PSP (Public Security Police) must "make peace" with the neighborhoods on the outskirts of Lisbon following the unrest triggered by the death of Odair Moniz at the hands of an officer in Cova da Moura.

In a statement to Lusa after addressing the first congress of the Police Professionals Union (ASPP/PSP) at the Faculty of Law in Lisbon, Dantier, who coordinates proximity policing teams across 11 divisions, expressed her belief that the PSP will eventually be welcomed back into areas like Bairro do Zambujal and Cova da Moura, although she acknowledged that rebuilding trust will take time.

"We need to calm things down. We have to create conditions and strategies. We cannot label everyone living in these neighborhoods as criminals. There are individuals who tarnish the neighborhood's reputation, but most residents leave home to work every day," she stated, recognizing that the current situation is still "very heated" and that it is essential to restore previous levels of cooperation between the police and local communities.

Dantier remarked that the unrest following Moniz's death, including disturbances in the Bairro do Zambujal, must lead the PSP to "re-enter" these neighborhoods and engage with residents who also require police assistance. "We must talk to the people in the neighborhood and listen to them. Was there a serious incident? Yes, but institutions are working. What about the rest? Don’t other people need the police? They do. We cannot abandon them," she stressed, warning that without this engagement, tensions between officers and the community will persist.

Addressing Crime and Misconceptions

Dantier highlighted that recent incidents of car fires and vandalism in various parts of Lisbon, including Benfica, are not social issues linked to the Bairro do Zambujal or Cova da Moura but rather the actions of "pure criminals." She assured that the police remain vigilant against those looking to exploit the current climate for vandalism.

At 59 years old, Dantier refrained from commenting on the political discourse surrounding the case but noted that public figures should exercise caution in their statements, as many have used the media to exacerbate tensions. "The PSP must extinguish the fire," she remarked.

Challenges in Proximity Policing

She acknowledged that there is some resistance within the PSP regarding proximity policing in these communities, particularly among older officers who have been trained for a more repressive role. Dantier warned, "If the police do not engage, there are other groups and phenomena that will fill the void."

When asked about the limitations on expanding proximity policing actions, Dantier cited a shortage of personnel and an increasing number of responsibilities for officers, resulting in a more reactive rather than preventive approach to issues. "We have to fulfill everything, which reduces our capacity on both sides. The police cannot be elastic. Either we bring in more personnel, or we will have to assess our current tasks and likely cease some of them," she concluded.