The Public Security Police (PSP) has released the list of candidates approved for the police officer course on its website after successfully completing the selection process, which includes physical tests, knowledge and psychological assessments, medical examinations, and professional selection interviews.
A total of 3,392 applications were received for this competition, which opened earlier this year, resulting in 2,759 disqualifications.
This course, designed for 800 new officers, was originally announced by the former Minister of Internal Administration, Margarida Blasco.
The president of the Police Professionals’ Union (ASPP/PSP), Paulo Santos, stated that these figures highlight the lack of attractiveness in the police force, impacting operational services and affecting the retirement of officers eligible for early retirement.
Paulo Santos noted that while the admission criteria, such as age, were adjusted, the lack of attractiveness is not solely an age-related issue.
The union leader attributed the low number of candidates to the PSP’s image as an institution with poor working conditions and low salaries.
“Police salaries remain very low relative to the profession’s specificity and service demands,” he said, emphasizing that the PSP has struggled to fill available positions in recent years.
The Independent Union of Police Officers (SIAP) also expressed concern over the shortage of new officers in service, calling the 633 admitted candidates “significantly below the necessary number and symptomatic of a much deeper problem.”
“This outcome should be seen as a serious warning sign about how the police career is perceived by the youth. The lack of appeal of the profession is now undeniable. The most concerning aspect is that even with the relaxation of admission criteria—a desperate attempt to increase applicant numbers—the available positions still couldn’t be filled. This disinterest among young people is directly related to the opportunities presented: modest salary conditions for the job’s demands and risks. Career progression is slow and often demotivating,” SIAP noted.
This month marks the end of a new agent training course, initially planned for 600 spots, which started with 500 and concludes with 459 officers, as 41 have already left.
