The Policia Judiciária (PJ) recently inducted a group of 113 inspectors who completed the 46th Inspector Training Course in early April. Of these, 38 will be stationed with the National Unit for Combating Corruption (UNCC), 24 with the National Unit for Combating Cybercrime and Technological Crime, 19 with the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo Directorate, 17 with the National Counterterrorism Unit, and 15 with the National Unit for Combating Drug Trafficking.
“The fight against corruption and economic-financial crime is the utmost priority and concern, and consequently, it is the area where the PJ has made the most significant investment in terms of specialized human resources, equipment, and training,” emphasized Luís Neves, the national director of the PJ, during the ceremony held at the institution’s headquarters in Lisbon.
Luís Neves has led the PJ since June 2018. He noted that at the start of his tenure, the institution had 968 investigators, a number that has now significantly surpassed “the barrier of 2,000.” The average age of inspectors has also dropped from nearly 50 to around 40 years.
“The generational renewal is evident, with a perfect blend of PJ’s highly specialized knowledge and the valuable input brought by your academic training and professional experience,” he remarked to the new inspectors.
Among the 113 inspectors who began their new roles, 78 hold undergraduate degrees, 34 have master’s degrees, and one holds a doctorate, representing 50 different academic programs. Moreover, 40% have prior experience with other criminal police bodies.
The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice, who reminded the new inspectors of their mission to “honor democracy through a commitment to truth and the unwavering defense of legality.”
