Is Crime Getting Worse in Portugal? What the Data (and Lisbon’s Periphery) Really Shows...

This episode examines whether crime is getting worse in Portugal by comparing headlines and lived experience with official figures. It notes that overall reported crime fell 4.6% in 2024 and Portugal’s homicide rate remains very low, yet highlights concerning shifts: 108 homicides in 2025 (highest since 2018), a 2.1% rise in general crime in early-to-late 2025, major increases in vehicle theft and bank robberies, and a 14.6% rise in group offenses concentrated around Lisbon and Porto. 

The monologue stresses crime is unevenly distributed, focusing on Lisbon’s peripheral neighborhoods such as Sacavém, Loures, and Amadora, where tensions between communities and police have been inflamed since the 2024 killing of Odair Moniz and subsequent riots. 

It contrasts tourist-area theft with localised serious violence, reviews government plans for body cameras and strategy updates, and concludes Portugal remains safe overall but not equally safe for everyone.

00:00 Is Portugal Getting Worse
00:39 Violent Weekend Headlines
01:36 Portugal Still Safe Data
02:37 Concerning Crime Trends
03:17 Crime Hotspots and Gangs
04:45 Cova da Moura Tensions
05:49 Expat Risk vs Reality
07:16 Government Response Limits
08:34 Final Verdict and Fairness
09:28 Thanks and Sign Off


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