GNR MILITARY PARADE 29 JAN - Event Date: 29/January/2016

I don't know if this will appeal to anyone, but

The GNR Faro Territorial Command will be hold in military parade at the Praça dos Pescadores (by the pier) in Albufeira, on 29th January 2016, from 15.10 hours.

This event is part of the commemorative ceremonies of the 7th anniversary of the Territorial Command Faro, marking the date of installation of the 1st Company of the National Guard in Faro, in the year 1914.

The event can be viewed by the public. More details will be published by the GNR in due course.

(For those who may not know, GNR are military, not police.)

Similar to France, where the Gendarmerie are technically part of the army. Spain, Italy and the Netherlands have similar organisations, which date back to times well before what we now know as police forces were established.

"Have they different powers and do they treat the "man in the street" differently?"

They do but I don't fully understand them!

GNR for example do traffic policing on major roads but in many towns the Policia Municipal do that and also look after minor issues like parking. The latter are also the enforcement arm of the local council. GNR also provide for example policing at Albufeira's football matches but in Portimão it's usually the local police.

I have had no personal experience of any of them!

Thanks to both of you.
My philosophy with police, at home or abroad, is to be civil and follow their instructions. I work on the assumption that they are there to protect us.  I hope I'm right.

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