The Public Security Police (PSP) was the winner of Europol's annual photography competition - 'Capture24' - in the 'Public Vote' category, published on the European police cooperation agency's social media.

The award-winning photograph portrays "a PSP motorcyclist accompanied by a Podence mask – a traditional Portuguese figure, typical of the carnival of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro", reveals the PSP in a note sent to newsrooms.

The image was captured by Chief Sara Teixeira, who currently works at the PSP Bragança District Command, and aims to represent "in a symbolic way the link between security and the Transmontano tradition", the statement reads.

The authority states that "this recognition underlines the PSP's commitment to security and proximity to the community while taking Portuguese cultural traditions beyond borders, namely the Podence careto, distinguished by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity".

The competition is open to police officers from all European Union (EU) member states and aims to "praise the work and dedication of police authorities across Europe".