The proposal was ratified at the executive's biweekly meeting and determines the installation of a video surveillance system in the city, “especially in the historic area, in areas with the highest number of criminal incidents, communication routes and isolated bridges frequently used for pedestrian movement”.

Speaking to Lusa, the Mayor, Sérgio Costa, said that the protocol to be signed with the PSP is the starting point of the project.

“It is now necessary to assess the needs, prepare the project, deal with its licensing with the National Data Protection Commission and validation by the Ministry of Internal Administration.”

According to the mayor, only then will we move forward to “finding ways to finance and launching the contract for the supply and installation of this equipment”.

Sérgio Costa highlighted that there are no predefined areas of the city to install video surveillance cameras, admitting that “everyone can think about where the system is most needed”.

However, the aim is to find “the necessary model” for the Guard with work carried out, “casuistically, on the ground”, by City Hall employees and the PSP.

“The process will take time, but today is the starting point for the installation of video monitoring in Guarda”, he assured.

The mayor hopes that conditions will be in place, “by 2026”, for the Guard to have video monitoring with the aim of reducing vandalism and crime.

Socialist councillor António Monteirinho, who replaced Adelaide Campos at today's executive meeting, regretted that the proposal was not complemented with a “prior study” and the inclusion of the values ​​involved in the future installation of video surveillance cameras.

Sérgio Costa responded: “We are carrying out the process as the Councils of Matosinhos, Leiria and Castelo Branco have already done. The starting point is this financing and cooperation protocol with the PSP and then we will have to evaluate the costs and find sources of financing”.