Polícia de Segurança Pública
| Public Security Police Polícia de Segurança Pública | |
|---|---|
PSP logo | |
PSP coat of arms | |
| Abbreviation | PSP |
| Motto | Pela ordem e pela pátria For order and for the fatherland |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | July 2, 1867 |
| Employees | 21,000 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| National agency (Operations jurisdiction) | Portugal |
| Operations jurisdiction | Portugal |
| Legal jurisdiction | As per operations jurisdiction |
| Governing body | Government of Portugal |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Lisbon |
| Elected officer responsible |
|
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Ministry of Internal Administration |
| Website | |
| www.psp.pt | |
The Polícia de Segurança Pública MHTE (PSP; Public Security Police) is the national civil police force of Portugal. Part of the Portuguese security forces, the mission of the PSP is to defend Republican democracy, safeguarding internal security and the rights of its citizens. Despite many other functions, the force is generally known for policing urban areas with uniformed police officers, while rural areas are normally policed by National Republican Guard (GNR), the country's national gendarmerie force. PSP is focused in preventive policing, only investigating minor crimes. Investigation of serious crimes falls under the Judicial Police responsibility, which is a separate agency.
Since October 2023, the PSP is now in charge of controlling the Portuguese borders (alongside the GNR), with the dissolution of the Foreigners and Borders Service.