For other uses of this term, see PSP (disambiguation).
The Public Security Police (PSP) (Spanish: Public Security Police) is a Portuguese security force charged with defending democratic legality, guaranteeing internal security and defending citizens' rights. In spite of having many other functions, the PSP is known to be the responsible security force of the great urban areas of Portugal, since the surveillance of the rural areas is normally reserved for the National Republican Guard. Because of its high visibility in the eyes of the public, the PSP has become the Police par excellence of Portugal. History Patrol vehicle of the PSP.
The PSP has old origins dating back to the ancient Quadrilheiros of the Middle Ages, to the General Intendance of the Police of the Court and Kingdom, created in 1780 and to the Civil Police, created in 1867. La Polícia de Seguridad Public adopted this name in 1927, with the reorganization of the so-called Civic Police. The Civic Police had been created in the reign of Luis I with the name of Civil Police, happening later by numerous reorganizations, giving origin, among others, to the present PSP and Police Judiciary.
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