PSP Lisbon Command faces officer shortages and station closures

The Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the PSP has seen the closure of 14 police stations since 2010, largely due to poor hygiene and sanitary conditions in existing facilities. This process was intended to optimize limited resources, yet the Lisbon Command has simultaneously lost nearly 1,500 officers, dropping from 8,000 to approximately 6,500.

While the Minister previously indicated openness to a proposal from the PSP to close nearly 20 more stations to address manpower shortages in a growing metropolitan area, current progress is described as lethargic. Reallocating staff from closed stations could potentially free up over 200 officers, though this remains below the 400 officers mentioned by the Prime Minister. There is a suggestion that shifting to a model with central 24-hour stations and partial-hour local stations could further optimize police presence.