PW_3_2024

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“On Friday we got to meet our policing counterparts from Lisbon’s public order command, and it was eye-opening to see how rigorous their training was. We learnt about some of the tactics they used at big events such as Benfica and Sporting Lisbon games and how that compared with other European counterparts.” Emily Morris said: “I have noticed that as a new police officer it can be difficult to find a network just for new officers to meet. It was good to meet people from a wide range of policing forces. I enjoyed the trip and thought it was a very good networking opportunity.” Hannah Wheeler recalls: “My first IPA trip was a fabulous and truly memorable experience that really cemented for me the principles of the Association – creating bonds of friendship, promoting exchange of ideas and professional development and all underpinned with the shared understanding of the policing role. “You couldn’t have put a more diverse group of people together if you had tried! Our group was a mixture of police staff and officers, retired and serving from a range of forces across the UK and Gibraltar! “The IPA Portugal House, a 15-minute taxi ride from the airport and next to the Benfica stadium, was a short tube ride from Lisbon or again a short taxi ride into the centre. It was really well-appointed with dorms or smaller rooms for sharing, meeting rooms and was ideally placed for cafés, restaurants and shops. “We couldn’t have timed our arrival better – we had arrived on 25th April ‘Dia da Liberdade’ -National Carnation Revolution Day, which marks the day the Portuguese military overthrew Antonio de Oliveira Salazar’s authoritarian regime. “It was a national holiday with everyone out celebrating with music, dancing and parades. We were warmly welcomed and joined in the festivities as well as sightseeing and ended up in a lovely barbecue restaurant, meeting other members of the group, in the Alfama region of the city. “Friday had been arranged by one of our group and the Portuguese IPA Chair – Francisco Ferreira. We met early and exchanged gifts, took photos and had an itinerary for the day. We had been told we were visiting a ‘special’ police station and we were driven to the Special Forces training centre – the home of the public order teams. “They don’t have visitors very often but, as Francisco had been in bomb disposal before retirement, this was his old team and workplace. “We had a fascinating insight into their world – delivered in excellent English remembered from school! The public order teams work 12 hour shifts with two hours training, legislation and lunch followed by six hours patrol and/or other operational requirements – i.e football, firearms ops.

“It was interesting to hear that they too were struggling to recruit and were short of officers but were not reducing or changing the standard required to get in. They had no female officers in their teams as none had passed the extensive testing required to get in. “We had a tour of the site and were also able to handle and test their equipment. We had a traditional lunch with them of soup followed by pork and clam stew and rice accompanied by red wine – not sure how accurate my shooting would be in the afternoon! “One of the highlights of the trip for me was the new friendships and connections that were made, the laughter and the planning of future trips through the extensive network of contacts that we shared as a group.” Footnote from Lorna : “IPA houses and the use of the IPA travel forms assist greatly with planning this type of event and make it affordable to participants. I believe other regions and branches could organise similar types of events for their members. “Organisation was fairly simple to do and the planning group for Lisbon are happy to help advise and guide other Regions to do the same. “Finally with a planning committee already forming to plan next year’s friendship weekend, again in April. If you would like to be a participant, then please contact: 9region@ipa-uk.org to register your interest.”

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.3, 2024

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