During a press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting, Maria Lúcia Amaral announced that a government decision made today aims to “alter criminal policy, giving greater priority to the possible intensification of sanctions related to crimes concerning the generation of fires.”
“In this context, there appears to be wide consensus that, unfortunately, we have learned that the so-called forest fire crime causes severe community damage and, therefore, should have special consideration in this criminal policy law, particularly regarding the priority it should receive in its investigation,” added the Minister of Internal Administration.
The intention is for these guidelines, Maria Lúcia Amaral further noted, to be reflected in the criminal policy law for the 2025-2027 biennium.
In the same press conference, the Internal Administration official announced that the government decided, also in the Council of Ministers, to extend the alert status until August 13 due to the risk of forest fires. “The existing prohibitions regarding agricultural and recreational activities in rural areas remain in effect,” she added.
The measures in force include the prohibition of access, circulation, and presence inside forest areas, according to municipal forest fire defense plans, as well as the prohibition of burning activities, with existing authorizations suspended for this period.
