Violent Crime Drops in Lisbon, with Notable Decrease in 2024
Violent crime in the area overseen by the Lisbon Metropolitan Command (Cometlis) decreased by 1.4% in 2024 compared to the previous year, while general crime saw an 8.9% drop, according to data released by the police. The data, sent to Lusa, reveals that the reduction in violent and serious crime is more significant in the municipality of Lisbon than in the broader Cometlis region.
Cometlis oversees the municipalities of Lisbon, Amadora, Oeiras, and Odivelas, as well as urban areas in Cascais, Loures, Sintra, Torres Vedras, and Vila Franca de Xira.
In Lisbon, general crime fell by 12.6%, while in the wider Cometlis area, it dropped by 8.9%. Violent and serious crime also saw a notable decline, with a 10.41% reduction in Lisbon compared to 1.4% across the Cometlis area.
According to Diário de Notícias, this marks the second-largest drop in crime in Lisbon in the past decade, following only the declines observed during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Despite these positive statistics, Cometlis commander Luis Elias highlighted on November 20, during the 157th anniversary celebration of the Lisbon Metropolitan Command, that public perceptions of insecurity do not always align with the crime data. Elias stated that violent crime had stabilized in the region and emphasized that the statistics do not reflect the sense of insecurity often voiced on social media and in certain public circles.
Cometlis is the largest PSP command in Portugal, with approximately 6,800 officers ensuring the safety of around 2.5 million citizens daily.
