PSP controlled more passengers at air borders and refused entry to 188 more

In the first four months of air border control since the extinction of the Foreigners and Borders Service, the PSP controlled more passengers, detained 132 fewer people and refused entry to 188 more than in the same period last year.

According to data from the PSP and the office of the secretary general of the Internal Security System, between October 29, 2023 and February 29, 2024, more than 4.8 million passengers were checked (4.4 million in the same period last year) , detained 83 (215) and refused entry to 1,237 (1,049).

The data made available to Lusa also indicates that the PSP detected 240 cases of document fraud in the first four months of air border control since the extinction of the Foreigners and Borders Service (399 in the same period last year).

In the same period, 240 (plus 13) requests for international protection were registered.

In total, the PSP controls the air borders at nine border posts: Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, Terceira, Santa Maria, São Miguel, Porto Santo and Beja.

Although they are not considered air border posts, the PSP also carries out border control functions at Tires Aerodrome and Horta Airport.

Regarding the management of temporary installation centers (CIT) and similar spaces, the PSP is responsible for a CIT (Santo António Housing Unit, in Porto) and three similar spaces, in Lisbon, Porto and Faro.

The data provided by the PSP indicate that between October 29th and December 31st, 2023, 28 foreign citizens entered the CIT, while 62 foreign citizens were welcomed in the three similar spaces in the same period.

Regarding airport security, the PSP carries out its duties in 16 airport infrastructures, including the autonomous regions of Madeira and Azores.

In addition to the airports that process regular commercial traffic (national flights, Schengen flights and flights from third countries), there are also six small aerodromes – dedicated to general aviation – and ultralight runways that are also subject to police surveillance and inspection.

Last year, at the aerodromes managed by ANA Aeroportos (Lisbon, Faro, Porto, Funchal, Porto Santo, Horta, Santa Maria, Flores and Ponta Delgada), SATA (Graciosa, Pico, São Jorge, Corvo and Flores ) and the Regional Government of the Azores (Terceira and Lajes), the service provided by PSP covered 487,000 aircraft movements (+12% compared to 2022) and around 67,500,000 passengers (+18.9%).

With the extinction of the SEF, more than 700 inspectors were transferred to the PJ, with a transitional assignment regime that allows these professionals to carry out duties for up to two years in the GNR and PSP, at air and sea border posts.

80 inspectors were assigned to the GNR, responsible for maritime and land borders, while 324 were assigned to the PSP, which takes control of the air borders.