PEDRO CALADO TO JM: “THE ESCALATION (OF INSECURITY) MAY INCREASE. WE WANT REINFORCEMENT OF MEANS, WHEREVER THAT MAY BE”

Tobi Hughes·
Madeira News

The mayor of Funchal told JM Madeira this morning that “unfortunately the facts are showing as right”, even warning that “the escalation may increase” and that the municipality continues to demand “reinforcement of means, whatever the case”. wherever”.

Pedro Calado commented to the newspaper on the latest incidents in Funchal, with a resident of Poço Barral stabbing a robber in the early hours of today, and the assault on the premises of the Parish Council of Monte, occurrences that follow from others, and that have motivated the concern of the Funchal City Council and its president.

“I have nothing to add to what I have already said”, the mayor began by saying to JM. “I am sorry for what is happening. Any city has robberies and thefts. As we have been warning, this escalation could increase.”

From Jornal Madeira

I would like to point out that this sort of thing hardly ever happened a few years ago, and now it’s in the news, social media daily….

Yes we are still one of the safest places in Europe, but people need to face facts the the world is not in a good place at the monent, people have less money and more expenses to pay.

Also drugs are rife on the island, and the homeless are the biggest problem for this, and its increasing.

If you have been coming to the island for many years, then yes it’s changed and you need to take more care of your personal belongings, I still see, especially locals leave their bag or phone at a coffee table and go inside to pay or for the toilet, this you can no longer do.

If you are new and only been coming to the island the last couple years, then treat it like any other European County, keep your bag, phone, purse, wallet and so on safe. Lock doors and windows when going out, old town of Funchal is particularly a problem at the moment for break-ins and theft.

This situation as they say will only get worse, and the police and other authorities have been very slow to act on this, as we living here have seen it gradually get worse and worse since Covid.

 

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Tobi Hughes

34 Responses

  1. I am really glad that we came to Madeira about 25 times when it was safe. We stayed in the old Palaccio and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My husband has now died and I have decided no travelling for me.

  2. Like I said the crime in the island isn’t only the done by local people but also the people that come in that many times also are committing crimes and no one around were says anything . And it seems that people around where prefer buried their heads in the sand . What it seems they like to generalize and are incapable to see or even recognize that isn’t only the locals but also the foreigners also doing that type of activities .

  3. May I ask if there is any correlation with the arrival of Venezuelan refugees in Madeira? I am not suggesting there are, but just asking the question.

    1. And if there is a correlation? Correlation does not equal causation. Venezeulans have been arriving for years, since before the pandemic. You’ll not only have to establish a statistical increase in crime since then but also show that the increase is due to perpetrators of Venezuelan origin. The majority of Venezuelans are working hard, providing services in the food and beauty sectors, opening businesses, they end up adapting well. So what’s your point with your “just asking?

  4. I have it from a good source, that the authorities will utilise the military to be patrolling the hot spots and make a presence to try to reduce incidents. Maybe Madeira has more in common with Venezuela than we thought??

    2. I keep hearing that the so-called Venezuelan refugees are in fact madeirans by birth? who have lived all their lives in Venezuela, moving to Madeira for a better life.

  5. Military are to patrol the streets and make a presence in Funchal to try to reduce this activity. You heard it here first.

  6. Well said Tobi, exactly what I and others have been saying for some time. The important thing is that the regional governadmits the problem and takes measures to deal with it, and doesn’t pretend that the problem will go away, as it won’t. Calado is right in that he accepts something must be done. There need to be more police around. They know where the areas are and perhaps external police would be more effective.

    1. Robin, I totally agree we have been saying this for some time and yes
      A lot more police is required 24 hours a day.

  7. I think it is good advice to stay alert, treat your belongings with care, don’t look too rich or flash your wealth and avoid certain areas at night and others at any time of day because there aren’t many people around. I’ve noticed a change in attitudes since covid. Lots more resentment which is somewhat understandable since salaries are low and the cost of living is increasing. Don’t draw attention to yourselves out and about if you are doing well.

    1. … I have not seen or heard of any threat or Danger to tourists or locals in any areas of Funchal, all I’ve heard especially from tourists is how they feel very Safe here, Street robbery is Not a thing here so Not a problem, there’s no Targeting of Individuals ,, the last few days have seen somewhat Sensational reporting of Break-ins at premises and businesses ,, I do not see how this relates to there being more Danger on the streets ?? so I don’t understand why this false connection is being made ,, I see it Media and Social media making mountains out of mole hills to fill Pages and Screens, that fill minds with totally Unnecessary Fear !!! …

      1. So many incidents, but we can all see nothing if our eyes are closed.

        Tourist robbed in Câmara de Lobos
        Sunday, October 30, 2022
        Woman in 70’s robbed at knifepoint

        1. … G? ,, Realistically aTiny Tiny amount of incidents considering the thousands of tourists here on holiday and the thousands of cruise passengers visiting daily, all potential targets, but not targeted !!! …

    2. Lavinia
      Well said and agree with everything . And people also should avoid strain back streets or even areas if they know it is a danger place instead of exposing themselves to danger .

  8. It’s good that me and my wife have been coming to Madeira almost every Year since 1990. Last visit was the first time the pickpoket took my wallit from my rucksack. Cameras saw clearly how it was done. Extreamly unpleasent expirience ; no cash left no credit cards to get money, driving licence lost
    social security card.
    Still we will come to Funchal and spend 3 months there – we will not be able to relax as we used and
    being out without care is impossible. Very Very bad for the island – a group of countymen and wemen
    will be on the same flight I will warn them strongly to keep everything as safe as possible. They come
    first time to MADEIRA. 🙁

  9. Just going to throw a curb ball in here! Perhaps there needs to be more social support with the greater number of homeless people who are about, why are there more like this and whats going wrong? You cant just throw more police at the result of problems or they will end up fire fighting.

    1. Totally agree. This would be best to address the real issue and not to try to cover it with more police on the streets. The problem will probably just move outsite of the city center but will still exist.

  10. This is a problem world wide. Drugs and alcohol ( more so alcohol) are an issue in Madeira. But a lot of born Madeiran nationals are returning to the island and there isn’t the work or social backup for the ones who are coming back with no capital. Those who do find work are seen as taking work from ” locals”and resentment is building.
    All this said and I’ve highlighted before,compared to other countries its a kindergarten by comparison, any major city or town anywhere in world is suffering exponentially greater with crime,homelessness, drug, alcohol abuse and anti social behavior.
    I’m afraid we all have to learn to live with it. You want to see who is responseble for your safety whether that is looking after yourself, your nearest and dearest, your belongings, even crossing the road,look in the mirror, don’t give the responsabilty to others.

  11. BEWARE … as such a beautiful island with its warm people will lose the beauty and welcoming that it naturally has. I am from Malta and can only say that in the last 10-15 Years, our mother island has lost its charm, health, traditions and security. Be selective who can visit and live there, you have the right. Do not fall prey to the speculation of the big or small construction companies. They will ruin it over time for their greed of money?

    1. Absolutely correct, Malta was a paradise 25-30 years ago, every criminal were know by the police. Open borders and lay-back attitudes by politicians, like here in Madeira, opens up for criminals. It appears to me that the leaders here have NO IDEAR ABOUT THE TRUE VALUE OF THIS UNIQUE ISLAND. Think, they could close all plastic potulions,all the plastic bottles, they have so much sun, and therefore use solar energy. Stop the petrol and disel pollution. All transport should be electric and clean. There are so few people in Madeira, and they police could very easily know everyone, use CCTC cameras and STOP CORRUPTION.

  12. Gary and G. What is the world going to think if it is announced the Governor has put troops on the streets to fight crime. Any thoughts of Best Island Destinations would be laughed at. On the plus side, there would be no more ugly buildings built, those that were empty would become barracks, no Golden Visas, no foreign investment, fewer Cruise Ships, there’s plenty of other destinations, an increase in Russians, they would feel at home, no Americans, they would compare it to Haiti. And for what ? A very small problem, that should be stamped on now.

    Russell, despite your claims never of seeing anything, crime is increasing and it needs to be acted on now, or the vast number of tourists that keep this island afloat will go elsewhere.

    Isabella, the tourist and his hard earned cash doesn’t want to be told, “Don’t go to that part of Funchal, it can dangerous.” If they have to look over their shoulder, forget it. I spent a lot of holidays in S Africa and in the end got fed up with having to be constantly alert.

    A few years ago, New York, where I have spent some time, cleaned up it’s act with zero tolerance. Sadly now back to the bad old days, but that’s what’s needed here. Not with the Army but the Police doing some work.

    1. George well said I think they should make it a police state
      Everyone will feel safe, but don’t bring in the army.

      1. I don’t think you’ve thought your last comment through, Danny

        From Collins Dictionary.
        A police state is a country in which the government controls people’s freedom by means of the police, especially secret police.

    2. … George if people are told Don’t go to certain parts of Funchal they are being Misinformed through Ignorance of Reality and treating and Exaggerating Perceived Threats of danger as being Actual Threats of danger which do not exist …

      1. Russell, I have to agree with you. But if you’re a fit 50 year old, who has been about a bit then these stories are as you say, exaggerated and not a cause for alarm but events are happening and increasing. As you say not just in Madeira. If you’re a 65 year old with a wife, one or both of you not as spry as you used to be, you don’t care that the problem is not just in Madeira, if you have been told of problems then the last place you are going to visit and most importantly, spend your money, is Madeira. Whether the stories are true or not. You are going to err on the side of caution. Both my wife and I are in our eighties, eat often in the Old Town which we will continue and recommend Madeira whenever we can, to whoever we can. Again a but, where five years ago I would not have worried if we got separated now she will get in a Taxi back to the accommodation. Put yourself in that 65 year olds position, you’ve never been to Madeira, you speak to a friend who has and recommends it but says, “We had a great time but keep away from, the cable car, sea front in the evening, full of drunks, druggies and rough sleepers.” which it is. Not a gang of Master Criminals, a load of losers but this is the story that they will be telling any would be visitors and as a 60 year old, this you don’t need. There are plenty of other holiday destinations.
        To you Madeira has no crime problem, to me it has a small one that can be cured but a huge economic one if not. Our opinions don’t count, it’s the perception that 65 year old has gathered from those who have just visited, listened to others, seen the dossers that are in the centre of Funchal, that the Police do nothing about, the drunks and druggies, if it’s these he tells his friends about then Madeira has got a problem.

        1. … George I have faith that the problems with drug users and drinkers congregating along the front near the cable car will get sorted out eventually, I have over the past few months on many occasions seen the Police swooping on groups or stopping and searching people and on a few occasions arrests being made, so they are definitely putting pressure on ,, but if they find nothing they can’t just physically move them on, and the can’t control any increase in numbers, the government and other agencies have to get involved as well … I lived and worked here in Funchal in the late 80s for around 9 months and in those days around Santa Catarina park and the roundabout was rife with prostitutes, also lots of kids begging (using shoe boxes with slits in and messages in different languages) all the way up the hill, outside the old Savoy and as far as Reids ,, but the authorities managed to get on top of and stamp it out as it was becoming a very negative association with Madeira among the tourists ,, that’s why I’m sure the problems around the cable car etc will be addressed, but it won’t happen overnight, it’ll take some time …

          1. Russell, I first came for a few days in 1970, trying to buy a business, it didn’t happen but stayed at the Savoy, where the Concierge discouraged after dark trips downtown and certainly not the area now known as the Old Town. Needless to say I visited. He was right there was nothing to go there for. Basically it was a scruffy, down at heel area. This was where I saw the prostitutes and kids.
            Fast forward to the late 80s, early 90s, when there was still nothing but banana trees above Reids. Now you could fly direct to Madeira a few hotels in the lido area were being used by the British Tour Operators. People were going into Funchal at night and a few Restaurants, The Tapasol and the Jardin, amongst the first, had opened. If there was still a problem, it passed me by, the odd drunk, no drugs, nobody flat out. If there was prostitution it had gone underground. More than happy to walk around with no fear.
            I admire your faith, just can’t share it but I’m sure you’re right, the problem around the Cable Car will be sorted but after four visits this year, over nearly six weeks, I haven’t seen any sign of Police activity and we bus down 3/4 nights a week, alighting at the Cable Car depot. They don’t have to move them on, a constant Police presence would suffice As I have said, to me, not a problem, but to the older visitor, something they don’t want to see and something to throw in the conversation when speaking of Madeira.

  13. As veteran of big cities, all I can say is that the escalation is from a denominator of almost nothing. Just be aware and ignore the tweakers who canvass around the Mercado.

    As for “where is this coming from”… ask the Police in Talinn what happened to petty crime, disorderly conduct and other disturbances following the arrival of Ryanair. It’s certainly not most of the travellers, but they facilitate moving borderline indigent persons great distances for next to nothing. If you could get to beautiful and innocent Madeira with its great weather and unsuspecting locals for next to nothing, wouldn’t you?

    Air traffic to Madeira is up 40% above 2019 baseline, which compares to most of Europe only getting back to 85-90%. So yeah, “that’s a big shift” and likely a responsible variable.

    1. None of these incidents seemed to have anything to do with visitors. What is with people who want to either blame immigrants or blame tourists? This is something some locals are doing, why does anyone think that Madeirans are a superior race to any other human and would exist without crime?

    2. Are you seriously suggesting Ryanair, who first flew into Madeira in March, are the problem ?

  14. Why do the police object to CCTV cameras in Funchal? It appears that they have something to hide. We installed thousands of CCTV cameras in Central London and it did reduce crime right away.

  15. Troops in the street… for a pickpocket… lol!!! Pull the other one… Slipping back to the days of Salazar!
    Crime in Madeira is virtually nothing, really you all think the local government will do absolutely nothing?? Ok a very little bit more crime, but this is Madeira and if the police don´t stop it then the local Madeiran´s will certainly stop it.
    All you readers should know better, Madeira is extremely safe, this is just a big scare story…. Some of those posting comments here should not be in retirement, it leaves little for the mind to think about.

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