Africa-Press – Cape verde. More than 240 National Police officers have been deployed to ensure security during the four days of the Baía das Gatas Festival. The special operation will take place from the 13th to the 19th of this month, with a “preventive and repressive nature, in case prevention fails”, the police force announced today.
The general lines of the “Baia das Gatas Festival 2024 Security Plan” were released to the press by the PN spokesperson in São Vicente, deputy commissioner Elvis Leite.
“With regard to public order in general, our main objectives will be to ensure that all activities within the festival are policed, to set up mobile patrol posts reinforced with plainclothes officers, with the aim of preventing theft and robbery in the stalls, tents and vehicle parking areas. We will pay special attention to monitoring alcohol consumption by minors under the age of 18, to monitor and control suspicious individuals, and to adopt preventive and precautionary measures provided for by law. We will guarantee the safety of all artists on stage, as well as sound equipment and materials,” he points out.
Ensuring order on Baía das Gatas beach, with special attention to bathers, carrying out searches, searches and detecting weapons are other objectives.
246 agents were mobilized, 216 from the São Vicente Regional Command and 30 from Boa Vista, Sal and Santo Antão. Patrol brigades were created to respond to requests from the population, mobile, foot and vehicle patrols, as well as teams to inspect stalls and tents and criminal investigation.
Road inspection is also one of the focuses.
“With regard to traffic, our specific objectives will be to carry out surveillance operations, daytime and nighttime inspections, to prevent accidents from occurring. We will ensure that the festival fences are inviolable, regulate traffic, regulate vehicle parking in designated areas, control passenger transport and we will have strict monitoring of driving under the influence of alcohol,” he says.
Special attention will be paid to policing crowds, using fixed video surveillance cameras. Despite the strong police presence expected in Baía das Gatas, Elvis Leite guarantees that security in the city will be ensured, with response teams operating “normally”.
For people going to the festival, the advice is to take safety precautions from their homes.
“The criminals already have a target and are looking for opportunities. Therefore, we urge people not to create these opportunities, taking the necessary precautions regarding the physical security conditions of their homes. Another aspect has to do with abandoning minors at home. We urge people not to do this. This is a good time for criminals to commit crimes of theft and robbery in homes. Therefore, we urge maximum caution.”
The 40th edition of the Baía das Gatas Festival is scheduled for August 15-18. The musical event will last four days, as opposed to the usual three.
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