Work began this Tuesday, 12 November, on the refurbishment of the Famalicão Public Security Police (PSP) station, a project that involves a total investment of more than 1.3 million euros and has an execution time of 450 days (15 months).
Work began immediately after the contract was signed and the project involves the total refurbishment of the building, with treatment of the façades, replacement of window frames, renovation of interior coverings, replacement of hydraulic infrastructures and remodelling of various spaces.
‘We took this contract in hand and, even though it's not the municipality's responsibility, we promoted the signing of the protocol with the government, which allows us to intervene and speed up a process that benefits everyone,’ said the Mayor, Mário Passos, who believes that once the work is complete, motivation and working conditions will improve significantly.
‘Like all citizens in their work, our police officers will also be more motivated and in better conditions to fulfil their duties and thus ensure the feeling of security that is fundamental to citizens’ quality of life."
It should be remembered that the work was only possible after the signing of a cooperation contract between Famalicão City Council, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) and the Public Security Police, which allows the municipality to go ahead with the remodelling work on the building, which is over thirty years old. The cost of the work will be borne by the MAI.
The work, which was awarded to Famaconcret, will be carried out in phases so as not to cause any constraints on the service provided by the PSP. The first phase of the intervention is now taking place in the citizen service area and the main building. During these works, all the services and structure of the police station were transferred to the two function rooms adjacent to the police station.
Despite the natural constraints caused by any construction work, the Commander of the Famalicão PSP, Commissioner Fábio Paulo, gave the assurance that ‘in terms of response capacity there are no constraints “ and that the population can rest assured that the Public Security Police in Vila Nova de Famalicão ”is perfectly capable of responding to requests and guaranteeing security’. ‘Even in temporary premises, nothing changes,’ he assured.
‘There is (in Famalicão) a consolidated sense of security’
Speaking at the end of the signing ceremony, the PSP commander also said that in Famalicão ‘there is a consolidated sense of security’.
‘In general, it seems to me that the citizens of Famalicão feel safe in their neighbourhood,’ an idea supported by the objective data from the work in the PSP's area of jurisdiction. ‘At the moment, it's not possible to point to an increase in criminal phenomena.’
The Commissioner and Commander of the PSP also added that ‘in terms of human and material resources, the Vila Nova de Famalicão Police Station is perfectly capable of ensuring the safety of the people of Famalicão and carrying out its duties in full’.
Mário Passos added that the municipality continues to work closely with the PSP District Command in the process of implementing video surveillance in the city and those new steps will soon be taken in this area. ‘What we want is for there to be this feeling of security, which is fundamental for people,’ he concluded.
