Ombudsman requests information from PSP on protest interventions

Urgent request for documents on police operations in Lisbon and Porto related to housing rights demonstrations.

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The Ombudsman has urgently requested information and documents from the National Directorate of the Public Security Police (PSP) concerning police operations initiated in the early hours of October 25th in Lisbon and Porto, in the context of housing rights demonstrations.

This request follows up on a previous one, dated October 16th, regarding a police intervention in Porto on October 15th, for which the response deadline is still pending. The PSP has 10 working days to respond to both requests, as per the Ombudsman's Statute.
Upon receiving the information, the Ombudsman will assess the compatibility of the police interventions with the right to assembly and demonstration, enshrined in the Constitution. The Ombudsman reiterated the State's duty, including security forces, to guarantee the free exercise of this right under Decree-Law No. 406/74.
Based on information from the official source: Provedor de Justiça (26/10/2026)