Police force to merge departments

Police officers manage the typhoon drill

A typhoon drill was conducted yesterday by the Civil Protection Operational Center, during which the commissioner-general of the Unitary Police Service (SPU) disclosed plans for the merge of departments and the expansion of the operational center.
There were 27 governmental departments and private organizations that participated in the drill. In total, 24 scenarios were rehearsed, including drills of stranded vessels and floods.
Ma Io Kun, commissioner-general of the SPU, acknowledged that the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau had predicted that four to six typhoons may reach the territory this year. “A review of the drill will be made after operations are completed,” said Ma.
According to him, the Security Forces Coordination Office (GCSEG) will be combined with the current SPU. The GCSEG currently reports directly to the Secretariat for Security. A review of the regulations and supervision of the works related to the plan are now ongoing. The department will “try to forward a report to the higher authority within the first half of this year.”
Nonetheless, the commissioner also revealed that the police authority is requesting more space for the center facility, which is currently located in the Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau (DSFSM) building at Calçada dos Quartéis, because the currently available space is rather confined. “We will suggest to either expand the current facilities or build a new one,” explained Ma, adding that “options under consideration are all within the police force structure.” Ma expressed that there is no need to search for a location outside the security departments because close coordination works better. He expects a final decision to be announced some time this year.