Alert Solo Women Beware! Men threatening women just north of Albergaria-a-Velha in the woods (Parque do Monte da Nossa Sra do Socorro)

[Lunabridges]

I was walking on this part of the trail at around 8 am this morning. I noticed some strange materials along the path (some condoms, a pornographic picture, a pair of male underwear). The path is sometimes littered with this kind of stuff but today my gut instinct told me to get my knife out and be ready.

Sure enough, a few hundred meters later, I came upon abandoned building and a man was there waiting for me. He had his pants down and was holding a women’s bra and masterbating. He started to come out of the house quickly after me. I started hurrying to get past the building so he would not block me into the forest, and then turned around to face him. I took out my knife and growled at him waving the knife at him menacingly. I supposed this scared him, because he retreated into the house and I was able to get to a safe spot to call the police.

The police took over 30 minutes to get there, which was quite ridiculous since I was in an isolated area with a man who had just threatened me. When they (finally) arrived, they said this was very common in this part of the trail. They had never caught the person who keeps assaulting females here. I asked them if they had ever posted signs warning women, and they shrugged it off. They even jokingly said “He usually starts in the summer, he must be getting an early start this year.”

So since it is obvious the Portuguese police do not really care about finding this person, I thought I should let any solo women planning to walk through this area to avoid it and go by means of the more populated city streets.

What a shame that pathetic, powerless men like this try to ruin the ability for solo women to walk the trail like any other human being. And that the policemen who are paid to protect us laugh about these kind of sexual assaults. I am sure if it was someone who they loved who had thought they might be raped or killed, they would not find it as funny.

 

[Corned Beef]

Thank you for letting the police know and anyone else who is travelling now.

Can’t imagine the fear that these individuals create for those just wanting to walk their pilgrimage. And I hope they are caught soon.

 

[Antnix1]

Your thread title should probably be "man threatening". I know there are similar incidents elsewhere but most are oddballs acting alone

 

[Lunabridges]

Your thread title should probably be "man threatening". I know there are similar incidents elsewhere but most are oddballs acting alone

Actually there was a second individual in a car that harassed me shortly thereafter as I was waiting for the police. I didn’t describe that incident, but that is why I used the word “men.”

 

[Former member 104756]

Hi @Lunabridges Just to say that I'm truly sorry you had to endure this dreadful ordeal. And thank you for reporting. Sending you good wishes and a big virtual hug. Take care.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I'm so sorry this happened to you and I'm sorry the Portuguese police don't think it's important.
Thank you for reporting it. Maybe at some point, they'll get tired of the reports and do something about it.
Be sure to mention it to your hostelier or hospitalero as well. This type of behavior can impact their business!

 

[Lunabridges]

I’ll describe the second incident also: the place I sought refuge to wait for the police was under a statue of the Virgin of Socorros about 300 meters from the abandoned house, in the middle of a roundabout. A man pulled up in a car while I was calling the police, then just sat there in his car under a tree in the roundabout, staring at me for the whole 30 minutes while I was alone waiting for them to arrive.

Then he slowly started circling me (the statue was in the middle of a circle) and leering at me. He made multiple trips around the circle, very slowly. Then he drove away, then came back, and did the same thing again. When the police came, he went away for a while, but when they left to go look for the guy in the building, the guy in the car came back and started harassing me in Portuguese. It seemed that he was demanding something, because his tone seemed quite angry. I told him I don’t speak Portuguese and to leave me alone. Eventually the police returned to drive me to the next town and the guy in the car took off.

Hence, why I used the term “men.”

 

[J Willhaus]

Thanks for describing both incidents. It would be very daunting in both situations.

 

[MickMac]

I was walking on this part of the trail at around 8 am this morning. I noticed some strange materials along the path (some condoms, a pornographic picture, a pair of male underwear). The path is sometimes littered with this kind of stuff but today my gut instinct told me to get my knife out and be ready.

Sure enough, a few hundred meters later, I came upon abandoned building and a man was there waiting for me. He had his pants down and was holding a women’s bra and masterbating. He started to come out of the house quickly after me. I started hurrying to get past the building so he would not block me into the forest, and then turned around to face him. I took out my knife and growled at him waving the knife at him menacingly. I supposed this scared him, because he retreated into the house and I was able to get to a safe spot to call the police.

The police took over 30 minutes to get there, which was quite ridiculous since I was in an isolated area with a man who had just threatened me. When they (finally) arrived, they said this was very common in this part of the trail. They had never caught the person who keeps assaulting females here. I asked them if they had ever posted signs warning women, and they shrugged it off. They even jokingly said “He usually starts in the summer, he must be getting an early start this year.”

So since it is obvious the Portuguese police do not really care about finding this person, I thought I should let any solo women planning to walk through this area to avoid it and go by means of the more populated city streets.

What a shame that pathetic, powerless men like this try to ruin the ability for solo women to walk the trail like any other human being. And that the policemen who are paid to protect us laugh about these kind of sexual assaults. I am sure if it was someone who they loved who had thought they might be raped or killed, they would not find it as funny.

Is that on the Portuguese.

 

[Silvermomma]

I'm so sorry this happened to you and I'm sorry the Portuguese police don't think it's important.
Thank you for reporting it. Maybe at some point, they'll get tired of the reports and do something about it.
Be sure to mention it to your hostelier or hospitalero as well. This type of behavior can impact their business!

Good idea. People who don’t care about women might care about money.

 

[Esg]

Thank you for warning us, solo women. Would it be possible to let us know exactly the place? I am looking at the map and it seems that Albergaria-a-Velha es a big zone. I am assuming this is on the Portuguese Caminho Central? additional details will help avoid this awful situation. Sorry for this incident, you handled it bravely.

 

[Sue127]

@Lunabridges . So sorry you that you were threatened in such a way and bravo for sticking it out and waiting for the police whilst in another threatening situation. You did the right thing despite, no doubt, being frightened. From another so woman, thank you and I hope that your onward journey will give you peace. Virtual hug coming your way.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, @Lunabridges, Thank you for reporting this incident. The police behavior you describe is certainly unprofessional and I am sure it added to the trauma. Women walking alone (or in pairs, because it's happened to me several times walking with a woman) do take this risk, unfortunately. The perverts who do this type of thing know that peregrinas are a good target - they are not local and not likely to be in the area for long. Thankfully, most of the time there is no actual physical assault, but it is awfully hard (at least it has been for me) to just pick up the pieces and go on.

I hope that you can shake the feeling of repulsion and disgust that these incidents provoke and continue on your caminho. Letting albergue owners know is one way to hopefully spread the word and produce a more unified local response. I have written to the Via Lusitana, the Portuguese Caminho Association, because I know that they take these issues very seriously and might be able to dig a little deeper.

I don't mean to bring up bad memories, but any information you remember about how you contacted the police, which branch of the police you dealt with (local, national), where they came from, etc. would help the Via Lusitana to follow up on behalf of all female pilgrims who walk this way. Bom caminho, Laurie

 

[Drifter]

There was a similar story on YouTube: "Attacked on the Camino de Santiago My story of the Assault"

 

[peregrina2000]

There was a similar story on YouTube: "Attacked on the Camino de Santiago My story of the Assault"

I think you are referring to forum member @Sara_Dhooma's video about her horrible experience on the Camino Salvador, outside Mieres. The silver lining to Sara's story is that she was able to testify and participate in the process that wound up imposing fines and a restraining order. Her video is pretty inspirational.

 

[Joe Walsh]

Hello Lunabridges and thank you for sharing your experience here. It is so important that problems like those you suffered should be reported so that accountability is possible and also innocent young girls and women depending on his forum are made aware of the risk. I think young boys are also at risk for similar assaults.

Too often only the positive experiences are posted and lauded in response to queries by new younger pilgrims about what to expect.

Thank you again for how you have responded to this.

 

[WayWalker]

Hi, @Lunabridges, Thank you for reporting this incident. The police behavior you describe is certainly unprofessional and I am sure it added to the trauma. Women walking alone (or in pairs, because it's happened to me several times walking with a woman) do take this risk, unfortunately. The perverts who do this type of thing know that peregrinas are a good target - they are not local and not likely to be in the area for long. Thankfully, most of the time there is no actual physical assault, but it is awfully hard (at least it has been for me) to just pick up the pieces and go on.

I hope that you can shake the feeling of repulsion and disgust that these incidents provoke and continue on your caminho. Letting albergue owners know is one way to hopefully spread the word and produce a more unified local response. I have written to the Via Lusitana, the Portuguese Caminho Association, because I know that they take these issues very seriously and might be able to dig a little deeper.

I don't mean to bring up bad memories, but any information you remember about how you contacted the police, which branch of the police you dealt with (local, national), where they came from, etc. would help the Via Lusitana to follow up on behalf of all female pilgrims who walk this way. Bom caminho, Laurie

The OP said police were familiar with him, that he has been doing this in years past so it sounds like he is a local repeat offender. Solo women should latch onto.others in this section as it sounds like police may not have done anything. Did they even take a police report?

 

[Theatregal]

I am so sorry you had to experience this assault @Lunabridges Thank you for your strength in reporting what happened though it's appalling that you were further traumatized by those who are meant to support and protect - especially in this situation as the police obviously know this repeat offender.

Letting albergue owners know is one way to hopefully spread the word and produce a more unified local response. I have written to the Via Lusitana, the Portuguese Caminho Association, because I know that they take these issues very seriously and might be able to dig a little deeper.

Thank you for taking action and writing to the Via Lusitana, Laurie.

Your thread title should probably be "man threatening". I know there are similar incidents elsewhere but most are oddballs acting alone

It is very important that response to these reported incidents never be diminished in any way. In every case, these men are not "oddballs acting alone" but are threatening predators who intend to provoke fear in women.

 

[Kristen Alvarez]

It is SO infuriating that we women have to be faced with this disgusting behaviour, yet - here we are. I’m glad you had a knife, and I’m VERY happy to hear you got to safety. When something like this happens it’s very jarring, and impossible to just shake off, but I hope you are able to get to a good headspace and carry on with the remainder of your journey as you intended it to be. Thank you for reporting it and posting about it here to warn others.

 

[truenorthpilgrm]

It is very important that response to these reported incidents never be diminished in any way. In every case, these men are not "oddballs acting alone" but are threatening predators who intend to provoke fear in women.

Thank you for saying this. An oddball is eccentric, quirky, unusual. I would not categorize any form sexual predation as oddball.

It doesn't matter if men act alone or in groups, all of it is predatory (and terrifying).

 

[MaineSally]

I was walking on this part of the trail at around 8 am this morning. I noticed some strange materials along the path (some condoms, a pornographic picture, a pair of male underwear). The path is sometimes littered with this kind of stuff but today my gut instinct told me to get my knife out and be ready.

Sure enough, a few hundred meters later, I came upon abandoned building and a man was there waiting for me. He had his pants down and was holding a women’s bra and masterbating. He started to come out of the house quickly after me. I started hurrying to get past the building so he would not block me into the forest, and then turned around to face him. I took out my knife and growled at him waving the knife at him menacingly. I supposed this scared him, because he retreated into the house and I was able to get to a safe spot to call the police.

The police took over 30 minutes to get there, which was quite ridiculous since I was in an isolated area with a man who had just threatened me. When they (finally) arrived, they said this was very common in this part of the trail. They had never caught the person who keeps assaulting females here. I asked them if they had ever posted signs warning women, and they shrugged it off. They even jokingly said “He usually starts in the summer, he must be getting an early start this year.”

So since it is obvious the Portuguese police do not really care about finding this person, I thought I should let any solo women planning to walk through this area to avoid it and go by means of the more populated city streets.

What a shame that pathetic, powerless men like this try to ruin the ability for solo women to walk the trail like any other human being. And that the policemen who are paid to protect us laugh about these kind of sexual assaults. I am sure if it was someone who they loved who had thought they might be raped or killed, they would not find it as funny.

This is like two days south of Porto, correct?

 

[peregrina2000]

This is like two days south of Porto, correct?

Gronze shows 3 days with a stop in Grijó between Sao Joao da Madeira and Porto. When I walked there was no accommodation in Grijó, so it was two rather long days.

This post makes me think that it would be a good idea for people who are walking now or in the near future to let the people in the Albergaria area know — albergues, hostales, police, etc. Since the incident happened after Albergaria, it may not have reached the people back there. Making noise is one way to draw attention to it and maybe you will connect with someone who can do something. My guess is that this guy is known in the area. I know that in my case, in one instance the Guardia told me they knew who it was and were planning to make a visit to his home to try to convince the family to take some action. We just need to keep reporting, even though it will never eliminate the problem, I fear.

 

[Silvermomma]

Thank you for saying this. An oddball is eccentric, quirky, unusual. I would not categorize any form sexual predation as oddball.

It doesn't matter if men act alone or in groups, all of it is predatory (and terrifying).

These are not oddballs. They are criminals.

 

[happypilgrim]

I was walking on this part of the trail at around 8 am this morning. I noticed some strange materials along the path (some condoms, a pornographic picture, a pair of male underwear). The path is sometimes littered with this kind of stuff but today my gut instinct told me to get my knife out and be ready.

Sure enough, a few hundred meters later, I came upon abandoned building and a man was there waiting for me. He had his pants down and was holding a women’s bra and masterbating. He started to come out of the house quickly after me. I started hurrying to get past the building so he would not block me into the forest, and then turned around to face him. I took out my knife and growled at him waving the knife at him menacingly. I supposed this scared him, because he retreated into the house and I was able to get to a safe spot to call the police.

The police took over 30 minutes to get there, which was quite ridiculous since I was in an isolated area with a man who had just threatened me. When they (finally) arrived, they said this was very common in this part of the trail. They had never caught the person who keeps assaulting females here. I asked them if they had ever posted signs warning women, and they shrugged it off. They even jokingly said “He usually starts in the summer, he must be getting an early start this year.”

So since it is obvious the Portuguese police do not really care about finding this person, I thought I should let any solo women planning to walk through this area to avoid it and go by means of the more populated city streets.

What a shame that pathetic, powerless men like this try to ruin the ability for solo women to walk the trail like any other human being. And that the policemen who are paid to protect us laugh about these kind of sexual assaults. I am sure if it was someone who they loved who had thought they might be raped or killed, they would not find it as funny.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I experienced a similar incident on the French route last Fall. It's a very traumatizing thing to have happen and can (hopefully only temporarily) shake one's sense of safety. The Civil Guard was a joke. The men who do this know the route well and wait for and stalk women pilgrims.

 

[Antnix1]

Thank you for saying this. An oddball is eccentric, quirky, unusual. I would not categorize any form sexual predation as oddball.

These are not oddballs. They are criminals.

"Oddball" can mean strange or peculiar, not necessarily just quirky.

And it's possible for someone to be both odd and potentially dangerous, like in the case of the flasher.

So, multiple aspects of a situation can be true simultaneously.

Anyway, I've stated my objection to the nasty habit of language policing and won't be responding to this thread any further.

 

[happypilgrim]

"Oddball" can mean strange or peculiar, not necessarily just quirky.

And it's possible for someone to be both odd and potentially dangerous, like in the case of the flasher.

So, multiple aspects of a situation can be true simultaneously.

Anyway, I've stated my objection to the nasty habit of language policing and won't be responding to this thread any further.

Only chiming in because something similar happened to me. Characterizing the person as an "oddball" really minimizes the situation the poster is reporting.

 

[Pelegrin]

The Civil Guard was a joke. The men who do this know the route well and wait for and stalk women pilgrims.

Civil Guard seems the translation of the Spanish Guardia Civil. In Portugal, the equivalent to Guardia Civil is Guarda Nacional Republicana, I think.

 

[truenorthpilgrm]

Anyway, I've stated my objection to the nasty habit of language policing and won't be responding to this thread any further.

Language matters

 

[loridovi]

I was walking on this part of the trail at around 8 am this morning. I noticed some strange materials along the path (some condoms, a pornographic picture, a pair of male underwear). The path is sometimes littered with this kind of stuff but today my gut instinct told me to get my knife out and be ready.

Sure enough, a few hundred meters later, I came upon abandoned building and a man was there waiting for me. He had his pants down and was holding a women’s bra and masterbating. He started to come out of the house quickly after me. I started hurrying to get past the building so he would not block me into the forest, and then turned around to face him. I took out my knife and growled at him waving the knife at him menacingly. I supposed this scared him, because he retreated into the house and I was able to get to a safe spot to call the police.

The police took over 30 minutes to get there, which was quite ridiculous since I was in an isolated area with a man who had just threatened me. When they (finally) arrived, they said this was very common in this part of the trail. They had never caught the person who keeps assaulting females here. I asked them if they had ever posted signs warning women, and they shrugged it off. They even jokingly said “He usually starts in the summer, he must be getting an early start this year.”

So since it is obvious the Portuguese police do not really care about finding this person, I thought I should let any solo women planning to walk through this area to avoid it and go by means of the more populated city streets.

What a shame that pathetic, powerless men like this try to ruin the ability for solo women to walk the trail like any other human being. And that the policemen who are paid to protect us laugh about these kind of sexual assaults. I am sure if it was someone who they loved who had thought they might be raped or killed, they would not find it as funny.

Lunabridges I am so sorry you had to go through this awful experience. It is so ridiculous and good you had a knife. I too am thinking of pepper spray before I read your post anyways. Dosent surprise me about the police, typical sadly. I wonder how many times this has happened unreported. I am so sick and tired of men intimidating and assaulting women, its epidemic. If there was enough press about this kind of thing happening on the Camino I am sure the local municipalities would step up their game to stop it as it affects the 'reputation' and 'tourism' of the area. If people got wind the Camino is not a safe place for women then something would be done I am sure. Sadly its takes this kind of thing to get the police to respond. In closing I am relieved you were not physically harmed. Thank you for telling us.

 

[happypilgrim]

Civil Guard seems the translation of the Spanish Guardia Civil. In Portugal, the equivalent to Guardia Civil is Guarda Nacional Republicana, I think.

my experience happened on the French Route on the Meseta.

 

[henrythedog]

At the risk of repeating myself (ahem!) other than expressing disgust at these events it’s rarely helpful for male contributors to comment further, however well intentioned.

 

[truenorthpilgrm]

Your thread title should probably be "man threatening". I know there are similar incidents elsewhere but most are oddballs acting alone

Anyway, I've stated my objection to the nasty habit of language policing and won't be responding to this thread any further.

Sorry, your initial comment right off the bat was to instruct the OP to change her title i.e. "your thread title should probably be "man threatening".


If your reaction is to make louder noises over language, rather than the actual incident, then announce you're departure when receiving valid pushback.... that's underwhelming.

At the risk of retreating myself (ahem!) other than expressing disgust at these events it’s rarely helpful for male contributors to comment further, however well intentioned.

Quite right.

 

[Pelegrin]

my experience happened on the French Route on the Meseta.

Oh. Sorry. You are right.

 

[Theatregal]

At the risk of repeating myself (ahem!) other than expressing disgust at these events it’s rarely helpful for male contributors to comment further, however well intentioned.

I understand what you are saying @henrythedog but I think it is helpful and important for male contributors to comment by expressing and practicing empathetic allyship and to not use words that diminish or downplay a woman's traumatic experience.

 

[Corned Beef]

I understand what you are saying @henrythedog but I think it is helpful and important for male contributors to comment by expressing and practicing empathetic allyship and to not use words that diminish or downplay a woman's traumatic experience.

In a past life I worked with agencies that help victims of GBV (gender based violence/domestic violence) in helping them move on to new accomodation and finding funds. Once the outrage has died down, there is usually a need for ongoing support which specialist agencies can provide. I hope the OP will seek out help when she returns home.

 

[Kathy F.]

I’m so sorry this happens to us, ALL of us, as the “Me, Too” movement so sadly pointed out.

The thought that the authorities do not take this criminal activity seriously is a major slap in the face to the victims, and a misjudgment on the part of the authorities (IMHO).

Imagine if the word went out that people should not walk a particular section of a Camino route, that they should bus or taxi instead. Perhaps there would be a financial impact on the area? Store owners and shopkeepers might feel the hit and encourage - no, demand - that the police take the safety of travelers seriously.

If I owned an albergue in the area and I learned that women were being threatened as they approached my town, I would see it as a direct threat to my livelihood (besides the basic human compassion and justice factor). That just one or two men “behaving badly” could cause such distress on so many levels is unconscionable.

Report these incidents to the authorities. Tell the shopkeepers. Tell the hotel, restaurant and albergue managers. Tell fellow travelers to avoid those places where legitimate incidents were dismissed by the authorities. This is not something locals should just shrug their shoulders at, forget, and move on.

When we look back on our time spent on the Camino, let’s share lasting stories of adventure, not scars.

 

[Paladina]

I took out my knife and growled at him waving the knife at him menacingly. I supposed this scared him, because he retreated into the house and I was able to get to a safe spot to call the police.

I’m sorry you were subjected to this disturbing behaviour but glad that you escaped unharmed. I worry, however, that carrying and brandishing a knife on the Camino could provoke a violent response.

 

[henrythedog]

I’m sorry you were subjected to this disturbing behaviour but glad that you escaped unharmed. I worry, however, that carrying and brandishing a knife on the Camino could provoke a violent response.

I held off saying that as this thread should maintain its focus on the disgraceful incident and the well-being of the victim, but as soon as a knife becomes no longer a perfectly legal utility tool and starts to be carried for the purposes of self defence the law can take off in an unexpected direction. Let’s leave it there.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Gronze shows 3 days with a stop in Grijó between Sao Joao da Madeira and Porto. When I walked there was no accommodation in Grijó, so it was two rather long days.

This post makes me think that it would be a good idea for people who are walking now or in the near future to let the people in the Albergaria area know — albergues, hostales, police, etc.

I second this. Even though the police officer to whom you reported didn't seem very helpful, reporting the situation to the municipality--which is not directly related to the police--would alert people responsible for and committed to local pilgrim support, if they were not already aware of this situation (quite possibly the case).

And the smaller towns in central Portugal are becoming more and more aware of the tourism potential and local income from hosting peregrinos en route to Santiago. They want the experience to be positive. So letting them know when it's far from positive is a very good strategy. Particularly if you communicate that the local police have not been particularly helpful.

Here's the website for the local cámera (equivalent of municipality). You can see:

1/ they pride themselves as being stationed along the caminho--with a link to their local information about the caminho route--in Portuguese, unfortunately, but translating apps work!

Rotas e Percursos

www.cm-albergaria.pt

(edit: there's a lot of information about their inexpensive municipal hostel on this webpage)

2/ they are concerned with local safety. Here is the information (again in Portuguese) about their local safety committee which concerns itself very much with women's safety. I find this is common in rural Portugal. (The following translates as Municipal Safety Council info)

Conselho Municipal de Segurança

www.cm-albergaria.pt

3/ They have a variety of ways of being contacted, including email. Probably there will be several local employees who have quite good English. And I have always found that using Google Translate to write your message and translate it, and including both the Portuguese translation and your English original in the email, with a subject line that shows the urgency (this, ideally, in Portuguese) works well when communicating with the municipality.

Contactos

www.cm-albergaria.pt

I hope this helps! The safer and pleasanter the experience, the better.

 

[chinacat]

Last night I watched a programme, on the BBC, about the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Police Officer in 2022.

It quoted research that indicates that men who expose themselves to (usually unaccompanied ) women frequently progress to sexual assault and thence to rape and possibly murder, if they are not stopped early on.

I am so sick of the view that men who expose themselves are ‘harmless’, and are considered to be a bit of a joke by those in positions of authority, who ought to know better.

“Whatever we do, wherever we go, yes means yes and no means NO.”
NO.

NB
The police officer in question had been reported for exposing himself several times in the past and it seems these events hadn’t been taken seriously and he hadn’t been prosecuted for them.

 

[WayWalker]

I’m sorry you were subjected to this disturbing behaviour but glad that you escaped unharmed. I worry, however, that carrying and brandishing a knife on the Camino could provoke a violent response.

Most people carry knives on the Camino. To cut sausage, cheese and bread.

 

[C clearly]

The police officer in question had been reported for exposing himself several times in the past and it seems these events hadn’t been taken seriously and he hadn’t been prosecuted for them.

What??? Is this a mistaken statement?

 

[chinacat]

No, it isn’t.

The most recent occasion had been about a week before he abducted Sarah.

He’d treated workers in a drive-through burger outlet to a view of his appendage.

There had been several occasions before this last incident.


Edit:
If you can, watch the BBC programme.
You will be horrified.

 

[Paladina]

Most people carry knives on the Camino. To cut sausage, cheese and bread.

So do I, but not the kind of knife that could cause a serious injury to the assailant or the victim.

 

[C clearly]

What??? Is this a mistaken statement?

No, it isn’t.

Oh, I see that your "NB" statement at the end of your post #40 was referring to the Sarah Everhard case, and not to the police who have been referenced earlier in this thread about an incident in Portugal.

 

[David Tallan]

This thread is clearly starting to stray from the original valuable alert to other cases and a wider discussion. As is common practice on the Forum for reports of specific incidents, I'm going to close it now. Many thanks to @Lunabridges for sharing the information and all of our hopes that this will be taken seriously by the appropriate authorities. Hopefully now that more light has been shone on the incident, local organizations supporting pilgrims can also bring pressure to bear to ensure that this happens.

Of course, new threads can be opened should there be future incidents. Hopefully such threads will be few and far apart.

 

[peregrina2000]

I am reopening this thread, only to provide some follow up. Because the Pilgrim reporting the incident had already gone north of Albergaria, I thought it was important to notify the albergue. I immediately received a reply of concern and the assurance that the hospitalera would contact the authorities. Just today I received another email describing the process that she initiated. Although the results are surely disappointing, it does provide an explanation for the long time lag between the incident and the arrival of the police. I also believe that the interest and intent are there on the part of the authorities. We need to keep up the drumbeat of “report report report.”

Dear Laurie,

I hope this email finds you well.

Regarding the incident, I want to share with you the information gathering, routing and conclusion of the process.

The local authorities, following the announcement, intervened in a relatively nearby location, Avenida Nossa Senhora da Luz. When they arrived at the location, they found that the information was incorrect and found it difficult to return the contact to gather more information and be able to act. in accordance.
Upon finding the correct location - Rua Nossa Senhora do Socorro, they moved immediately, taking around 30 minutes.

I believe that the team deployed for this intervention is new to the area and this factor probably contributed to the difficulties, as well as in communication with the pilgrim, unfortunately. Another factor considered was the fact that Rua Nossa Senhora do Socorro is more similar to an avenue and Avenida Nossa Senhora da Luz is more similar to a street, rather than an avenue. Portuguese things...

The Pilgrims' Hostel prepared a report with the aim of ensuring that these situations are controlled and avoided, and that offenders are duly identified and punished. We prepare a set of relevant information, forwarded to the territorial post of law enforcement officers, to ensure more attentive and effective coordination and action. We also reinforce the importance of the Camino de Santiago in Portugal and the guarantee of safety on the Camino for all pilgrims.

Ms. Laurie, thank you once again for sharing the information with the publication of this incident and we hope that these situations will not happen again.

I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that the Hostel is open every day from 1pm to 7pm, from March to November. If you have any questions or additional information required, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,
Carina