Potential situations of violence
As in other large events, factors that can affect the safety of participants, including higher likelihood of crimes, are:
- Large groups of people;
- Limited personal space;
- Many people moving around;
- Resulting physiological impacts such as feeling tired, too hot, or stressed;
- Anxiety, as this is a much-anticipated event which can lead to high expectations.
To address these risks, the JMJ Foundation is working together with APAV and the police and civil protection authorities.
These risks can be experienced not only in groups participating in a specific activity but also by people moving around or frequenting the same spaces.
The characteristics of large events make some types of crime more likely. Some of the most common types of crime at large events are:
- It may involve physical violence, threats, or intimidation
- The perpetrator’s goal is to take property from another person (e.g. money, cards, jewelry, mobile phone, etc.).
- It may involve the use of weapons
- Situations can range from minor disagreements to serious or life- threatening violence
- It involves a physical assault on another person
- It may involve the practice of violence
- Crimes are motivated by the fact that a person belongs (or being perceived to belong) to a particular group on the basis of race, colour, ancestry, national or ethnic origin
- Either an attempt or an assault are considered crimes
- It is an unwanted behavior of an sexual nature towards someone.
Some types of crime require a complaint in order to start an investigation, others do not - it is enough to know that it has happened for the investigation to be initiated, even against the victim’s wishes.
To learn more you can consult the APAV website infovitimas.pt .
APAV can provide support even if the victim does not report the crime to the authorities.