A newly released report from the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) of the Council of Europe noted a “decrease” in allegations of mistreatment by law enforcement officers during a 2024 visit to Portugal compared to previous visits. The report also highlights measures taken by Portuguese authorities to address this issue.
However, the report indicates “continuing concerns” due to several allegations of physical mistreatment by Portuguese police, including “excessive use of force during detention.”
The alleged mistreatment mainly involved punches, kicks to the body and/or head, and occasionally the use of batons, the document states.
Complaints also included being thrown against a wall, pressure on the head with a foot, or the neck with a knee or baton, “despite detainees already being subdued,” according to the authors, who also reported verbal threats and acts of humiliation.
The document highlights the need to ensure medical care and better reports on injuries.
The CPT experts recommend that “the Portuguese authorities remain vigilant and continue their efforts, in line with a ‘zero tolerance’ policy, to completely eradicate police mistreatment. They should, in particular, improve communication of these cases, both internally and to the relevant investigative bodies, and provide adequate training for law enforcement officers.”
The Committee expressed “deep concern over persistent flaws in the response of the Portuguese criminal justice system,” stating that these represent a risk to public trust in Portuguese authorities.
“Concerning access to a lawyer, this right does not appear to be guaranteed for individuals in police custody in all cases from the onset of deprivation of liberty,” the report’s authors observed.
To illustrate certain situations, the committee cited the case of a man detained by the PSP who reported being restrained and thrown to the ground by officers as they kicked him, punched him, and hit him with a baton on the head, among other assaults confirmed by the nurse’s report at the prison.
“The CPT continued to note omissions by prison establishments, as well as by the Internal Administration General Inspectorate (IGAI) and the Justice Services General Inspectorate, in communicating potential cases of mistreatment by law enforcement officers to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as well as cases where allegations or indicative information of mistreatment were not adequately or promptly addressed by this service,” the document adds.
The committee also emphasized the need to improve communication and information sharing between criminal and disciplinary investigation bodies, especially in cases where disciplinary and criminal proceedings occur simultaneously.
