Domestic Violence. PSP arrested 306 people in the first half of the year

The Public Security Police (PSP) arrested 306 people in the first half of this year on suspicion of domestic violence, a period in which 3,404 defendants were charged with the same crime, the security force announced this Friday.

In a statement, the PSP details that, although the data is still provisional, in the first half of this year 306 people were arrested, of which 16 were caught in the act and 290 were not caught in the act.

As part of its intervention, 11,445 reports of domestic violence were recorded.

Of the total number of suspects identified, 2,725 were women and 9,666 were men. Among the victims, 8,456 were women and 4,172 were men.

Regarding the degree of kinship between the suspects and the victims, the PSP says that there is a predominance of son/daughter/stepson/daughter (3,734), followed by spouse/partner (3,521) and ex-spouse or ex-partner (1,699).

According to the PSP, 54 preventive detention coercive measures were applied by the judicial authority.

“The PSP, through police officers from the criminal investigation structure, assigned to the investigation of crimes of domestic violence, initiated, by delegation of the Public Prosecutor's Office, 10,168 criminal investigations in this area, having subjected the constitution of defendants to 3,404 suspects of committing the crime of domestic violence”, it adds.

In the first six months of the year, as part of the work carried out by the PSP's Proximity and Victim Support Teams (EPAV) in monitoring cases and follow-up, 11,681 contacts and actions to reinforce policing were implemented to protect victims.

4,970 measures to reinforce protection were also implemented in conjunction with other institutions (shelters, teleassistance and victim support organizations).

The PSP recalls the work carried out from a preventive point of view by community policing, particularly within the scope of the Safe School Program, highlighting that in the 2024/2025 academic year, 1,996 awareness-raising actions were carried out on the same theme, with the participation of 45,664 students.

It also highlights that the PSP carries out two national operations annually specifically aimed at promoting the prevention and combat of domestic violence, namely the operations “No Namoro Não Há Guerra” (No Dating There Is No War) and “A Violência Fica à Porta” (Violence Stays at the Door).

In the statement, the PSP also recalls having created Police Assistance Structures for Victims of Domestic Violence (EAPVVD), distributed throughout various parts of the country, in which assigned police officers are specifically trained to carry out duties of assisting victims of domestic violence, as well as investigating this type of crime.

“Awareness and information campaigns have also been launched, both on PSP's social media and in the media, to involve family, friends and neighbors in reporting any suspicious situation and to emphasize the ease of contacting the Police, especially for victims, namely through the email [email protected],” the note reads.

The PSP also says that these situations can still be reported in person , at police stations, specifically with police officers assigned to EPAVs, or at Police Assistance Structures for Victims of Domestic Violence.