AMOVATE is proud of its role in helping to keep the community aware and informed of safety, security and the need to constantly be on the lookout as regards crime prevention.
Fortunately it is not a serious problem in this part of the Algarve, but, nevertheless, our links with the local GNR, whose commander Sergeant Gabriel Reis is a member of the Amovate Committee, ensure that the community is kept well-informed about any matters affecting us.
That is why we are pleased to make available to our members a link to a free crime prevention website created by Safe Communities Algarve.
Former Interpol, UN and Hong Kong police officer David Thomas, who now lives near Boliqueime, has become involved in community work in the Algarve regarding crime prevention.
He has been helping the GNR and the civil authorities here in respect of crime prevention and at the end of last year he launched Safe Communities Algarve a website dedicated to crime prevention, and the only one of its type in Portugal.
The website address is:
www.safecommunitiesalgarve.com
David has now been in touch with Amovate President Peter Johnson to request our assistance in making the people of Vale da Telha, Aljezur and the surrounding areas, aware of the services offered by Sale Communities Algarve.
He says that as you will see from the Home page it is a free service to the community and is well supported by the authorities, including the GNR, British and Dutch Ambassadors to Portugal and is rapidly expanding its services to residents across the Algarve.
David said his attention was drawn to Amovate by the GNR because of our “model” of having a GNR representative/commander as part of our group, which he says is the way forward.
“It is, in fact, part of discussions I am having at present with the GNR Commander for the Algarve,” he added.
“I feel initiatives such as yours are the best way to promote community harmony, neighbourliness and interaction, and you should all be congratulated on your efforts.”
David went on: “The Safe Communities Algarve website provides a wide range of crime prevention advice from safely living in rural areas to motorist crime etc.
“In a development aimed at helping the foreign community report crime, Safe Communities Algarve has just introduced a new service, by making available the Ministry of Interior Affairs on-line crime reporting service in English.
“Because of Amovate’s interest in these matters through their links with the local GNR I thought that you may wish to inform your community on the West Coast about the free services that Safe Communities Algarve provides, as this should be of interest and help to residents belonging to your association.
“By accessing the link on your website to our website people can obtain whatever information they wish. They might like to see, for example, the On-line crime menu which is the latest service that has been introduced.”