PJ arrested 287 people by October for suspicion of sexual crimes

A Judiciary Police (JP) today revealed that they were arrested this year, until October 31, 287 people on suspicion of sexual crimes, 116 for sexual abuse of children.

“ In the year 2025 330 were arrested, of which 120 were for sexual abuse of children. In 2026, until October 31, 287 were arrested, of which 116 for sexual abuse of children ", said the national director of PJ, Carlos Cabreiro.

During the opening session of the conference “Research and Synergies: Integrated Cooperation in the Research of Sexual Crime”, which takes place throughout the day in Coimbra, Carlos Cabreiro also indicated that in 2025 890 activations were recorded, while in 2026, until 31 October, 815 activations were made.

“ These are impressive numbers, which represent an effective capacity for prevention and criminal repression, mainly thanks to the institutions present here, which, attentive and committed, detect suspected cases of abuse and communicate to the PJ, which acts immediately to assess the effective existence of crime, and, confirming, to stop the aggression ", added.

In statements to journalists in the margins of the conference, the national director of the PJ considered that the data point to a general trend towards stabilising sexual crime over the past few years, but stressed the existence of increases in certain types of crime, including rape and sexual abuse.

During the session, a campaign was also presented to raise awareness of the risks of chemical submission, associated with the use of substances that can reduce the ability of victims to conscience and reaction, making them more vulnerable to the practice of sexual crimes.

Asked about the extent of this phenomenon, the national director acknowledged that there is an increase, although “not very significant”, in situations of this nature, however, the cases identified “justify a preventive response”.

“ We act not only at the repressive level, but also at the level of information and prevention on the effect that these types of substances have on normal activity and people's consciousness ", said.

In the opening intervention, Carlos Cabreiro also referred to the investment of PJ in the protection of victims, in the training of researchers and in the strengthening of expertise, through the Forensic Digital Laboratory and the Scientific Police Laboratory.

Among the measures mentioned are the creation of special rooms for the care of victims, including spaces adapted to children and equipped with specific mechanisms for the collection and recording of testimonies and interviews.

The National Director of the PJ also stressed the importance of training in cognitive interviews with victims and in the interrogation of defendants, as well as the contribution of the Observatory of Sexual Crime and the Institute of Judicial Police and Criminal Sciences in assessing the risk of recurrence and in studying patterns of criminal behavior.

After highlighting the importance of the collaboration of national and international entities, including Europol, Interpol, GNR, PSP, the Committees for the Protection of Children and Young People, hospitals, schools and institutions supporting victims, as well as the central role of the Public Prosecutor, Carlos Cabreiro defended the need for a rapid sharing of information between the institutions, to enable a faster intervention of the JP and to avoid re-victimization.