The Union Association of Police Professionals (ASPP/PSP) announced this Tuesday that it will hold more plenary sessions that condition the operation of Lisbon airport until the Government “resolves the problems” of police officers who are at air borders, according to Agência Lusa. The next one will be on dates close to Christmas. The plenary held this morning, on one of the busiest days, caused long queues at Humberto Delgado.
The decision to make more stops came from the plenary that ASPP held at Lisbon airport, with the aim of denouncing what it says is “the lack of conditions” of the police officers who carry out border control, who declare themselves “totally exhausted and unmotivated”. The plenary session was attended by around 100 members of the Public Security Police who work in that infrastructure.
“If the Government does not begin to provide answers to resolve the problems, we will insist on new plenary sessions that have an impact on the operation of the airport,” ASPP president Paulo Santos told Lusa, adding that a plenary session was scheduled for December, close to Christmas, to be held at Lisbon airport and which will feature police officers working at air borders across the country.
PSP wants conditions identical to those of former SEF inspectors and more effective
The president of the largest PSP union stressed that the police will “continue the fight until the Government responds to the allocation of an airport supplement, as happened with former SEF inspectors, better working conditions, an increase in staff, dignified salaries and an end to pressure from ANA – Aeroportos”.
Paulo Santos stated that during the plenary session the police explained the current situation regarding passenger control at airport borders, a responsibility that the PSP inherited two years ago from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).
“Lack of staff, lack of resources, lack of equipment, pressure exerted to develop control over people” are some of the complaints, he said, adding that there is a “brutal disregard for working conditions”. The lack of equipment involves issues as simple as stamps and computers.
According to the president of the ASPP, the Government has now given the PSP 100 days to reduce the waiting time for passengers when controls are being carried out, which causes a “devaluation of the security component”.
The union leader also reported that the police are “unmotivated by the way they are being treated” and are being refused transfers to other PSP locations.