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Portuguese Police Destroy 8,000 Guns, Knives This Week, 300,000 in 12 Years

Writer's picture: @ Cynthia Adina Kirkwood@ Cynthia Adina Kirkwood

Updated: Jul 13, 2024

The PSP (Portuguese Public Security Police) promotes the licensing and collection of weapons through Mobile Assistance Units. (Photo by Fernando Veludo/Lusa)

 

The Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP) destroyed an arsenal of 8,317 weapons this week in commemoration of International Small Arms Destruction Day, according to Jornal de Notícias (July 10).


Most of the guns and knives were surrendered voluntarily, but some were seized by the authorities, reported SIC Notícias (July 10).


"There are all types of weapons: short-barreled, long-barreled, revolvers, pistols, electric weapons, shotguns . . . ," enumerated Superintendent Filipe Palhau, director of the PSP Department of Arms and Explosives, on SIC Notícias television news.


Over a dozen years, the PSP has destroyed 303,208 weapons, in keeping with United Nations programs to control illicit firearms trafficking and control violence by encouraging voluntary weapons surrender. Also, since 2019, more than 42,595 kilograms of ammunition have been eliminated, reported Observador (July 10).


Under the motto: "Every weapon destroyed can no longer be used to kill, injure or intimidate," several United Nations' agencies carried out similar actions around the world.


In Maia, Porto District, a scrap metal factory reduced the guns and knives to shrapnel: metal, wood and plastic.


Crimes involving weapons have decreased during the past five years, said the PSP. The Secretary of State for Internal Affairs, Telmo Correia, who was present at the weapons' destruction, said that there is consideration of reinforcement of the current program, reported SIC Notícias.


According to PSP data, in 2013, 16,695 weapons were destroyed, a number which grew in the following years until reaching 37,351 in 2018. Then, in 2023, there were 17,936, and in the first half of this year, it reached 8,317, reported Observador.


Community work of its officers in cooperation with those of the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana), the local people and other groups account for the program's success, said the PSP in a press release.


The PSP carried out 137 awareness-raising activities in weapons and explosives in local communities between 2020 and 2023. It promoted the licensing and collection of weapons through Mobile Assistance Units.


Since 2020, the PSP has increased its activity. In that year, it had 19 activities compared to 42 in 2023, when it also carried out 202 hunting inspection operations.


The PSP, in coordination with the GNR, will carry out the Operation "Weapons in Safety" summer tour between July 22 and August 11, reported Observador.


July 9 marks International Small Arms Destruction Day, which the United Nations initiated in 2001, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2020.


"Over the past decade, arsenals have proliferated at the global level. According to Small Arms Survey, it is estimated that there are approximately 1.13 billion firearms in circulation, among which 857 million are held by civilians, 133 million by military, and 22.7 million by law enforcement.


"The larger the number of uncontrolled arms in circulation, the more difficult it is to ensure effective control over them throughout their entire lifecycle. Stockpiles become potential targets of thefts and attacks, and diversion points for firearms to fall into the hands of criminals, non-state armed groups, terrorists, etc., contributing to crime, conflict, gender-based violence, forced migration and innumerable indirect consequences."


The UNODC's Global Firearms Programme supports member states, such as Portugal, in conducting collection and destruction campaigns; implementing other preventive and security measures; assisting in policy and legislative development; building institutional support to improve criminal justice responses, promoting international cooperation, and undertaking research and analysis.


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