In this third article we continue to explore how the integration of the Judiciary Police (PJ) with the National Republican Guard (GNR) and the Public Security Police (PSP) can transform the ability to detect and prevent crimes, especially in a context where social dynamics and criminal methods are constantly changing, presenting our conclusions.
Rogério COPETO
Colonel of the GNR
Master in Law and Security and Homeland Security Auditor
With the merger of PJ into GNR and PSP, information sharing and coordination between various units would become more fluid and integrated, whose databases and technological resources, before divided, could be consolidated, enabling faster and more comprehensive access to information vital for solving crimes, being particularly important in investigations that depend on the rapid and accurate analysis of large volumes of data or that require intense interregional cooperation.
Joint training of GNR teams, PSP and former PJ elements can lead to a better mutual understanding of the methodologies and techniques used in different types of criminal investigations and incident response, This formative integration facilitates joint operations and increases their effectiveness, by combining the practical and operational experience of the GNR and PSP with the investigative rigor of the PJ.
The merger will enhance response capacity in remote areas or in operations that require significant mobilization of resources, where the PJ's experience in complex investigations, combined with the territorial knowledge of the GNR and the management capacity of large audiences of the PSP, would create a more resilient FS, capable of acting decisively and coordinated in all types of scenarios.
The merger of the PJ with the GNR and the PSP could create a more robust and adaptive internal security system in Portugal, whose integration proposal aims not only to improve operational efficiency, but also position these FS in a way that responds more promptly to changes in the criminal and social landscape, whose ability to adapt quickly is especially critical in a world where both social patterns and criminal modalities evolve rapidly.
Modern crime, including cybercrime, human trafficking and international terrorism, requires a sophisticated, multifaceted approach, where the integration of PJ resources and skills, of GNR and PSP would be better equipped to develop new skills and apply advanced investigation techniques across a broader spectrum of operations, whose consolidation of intelligence and criminal investigation services would facilitate a more coordinated and efficient response, allowing FS to quickly adapt to new threats as they emerge.
Social changes, how demographic migrations, technological developments and transformations in urbanization patterns, directly influence public safety requirements, where an integrated security system, resulting from the merger of PJ with GNR and PSP, would provide a more flexible and dynamic basis for planning and implementing security strategies that align with these changes, as, the ability to quickly redistribute resources between urban and rural areas in response to demographic changes or specific emergencies would be enhanced.
The merger could significantly improve FS's ability to detect and prevent crimes before they occur, where in an integrated structure, sharing information would be more fluid, improving preventive intelligence and surveillance operations, whose ability to operate proactively, instead of just reactive, is crucial in an environment where criminal methods are constantly evolving.
In a globalized environment, it is vital that FS can quickly adapt to international standards and regulations, including agreements on human rights, data protection and cross-border cooperation, and a unified FS would have greater internal cohesion to align its practices with these international standards, facilitating more effective collaborations with international partners and law enforcement agencies.
Integration would contribute to more resilient and sustainable FS, able to manage their resources more effectively and respond to protracted crises, whose merger of the administrative and operational capabilities of the PJ, in GNR and PSP would allow for a more rationalized and sustainable allocation of resources, essential in a security environment that requires not only immediate response, but also long-term strategies for challenges such as organized crime and terrorism.
Based on the analysis of internal security systems in southern Europe and the proposal to integrate the PJ into the GNR and PSP, the conclusion is unequivocal, the merger of PJ with GNR and PSP, keeping these last two as autonomous FS, It is a measure that is necessary and should be strongly recommended.
The Spanish models, French and Italian offer valuable contributions on how different police bodies can coexist under centralized coordination, therefore, when merging the PJ with the GNR and the PSP,, Portugal will be able to create a more efficient and cohesive structure, maintaining the specialized functions of each police force.
This integration would provide centralization of coordination, optimization of resource allocation and a more integrated and versatile response to a variety of security challenges, and in addition, the unification of policies and training between the GNR and PSP would reinforce consistency and effectiveness in law enforcement across the country.
Therefore, the merger of the PJ into the GNR and PSP is recommended, maintaining the latter as autonomous entities, This reform represents a significant step in the modernization and effectiveness of national security in Portugal, promoting a more efficient and coordinated response to the security challenges facing the country.
Note: The text constitutes the exclusive and unique opinion of its author, which only binds to this and do not reflect the opinion or position of the institution where it provides services.
