One of the reasons I chose to relocate to Portugal was because I had read it's a very safe country. Sadly, this seems not to be the case.

This morning I was walking on the narrow footpath over the river bridge leading to the Lagos municipal pool and a guy was walking towards me. The footpath is only one person wide, and I was about to step into the road as I was facing the oncoming traffic (no cars coming) when the guy stepped into the road to let me pass on the footpath. As I got close to him I looked at him and said obrigao and he raised his right hand in an action I thought was a simple wave of good morning when he hit me very hard with a closed fist right in the centre of my chest.

I staggered forward having had the breath knocked out of me and said something like WTF, when he then said "now I'm going to beat the shit out of you". I think a car then came along the road and he had second thoughts and continued heading over the bridge towards the supermarket.

This happened about 300m from Lagos police station and I thought for a moment whether to go in and report him. I quickly decided that this would lead to sitting in there for the next two hours with everyone talking and filling forms out in Portuguese so didn't bother, especially as there were no witnesses.

The guy was well over six feet tall and powerfully built with long blonde hair and was carrying a guitar in a case, so I very much doubt he was local. I'm guessing that he was either under the influence of alcohol or something stronger, and judging by his accent was mid European or possibly Scandinavian.

While I decided that I didn't want to go into the police station to report this I would like to know if there is a way to anonymously report it. I was recently told by a friend that the Lagos police chief has publicly stated that he will not tolerate people causing trouble in the town, so a reported description of this cretin and what happened might be of help.

That's terrible!
It happened to a neighbor of mine, a 75 year old German was beat up by a well known area bully.

I don't know the answer to your question, but I suspect that even if you could make such a report, it couldn't go far. Prosecution would not be possible.

So my neighbor, he can be a bit abrasive. He told off the bully's nephew for riding his motorbike up and down the road fast all day.
The bully drove to his place, came at him, knocked him down, bruised his face, and cracked a rib. yelled and screamed abuse, threats, and so on.

Police know him well of course, multiple assault convictions, theft, drug dealing, domestic abuse, etc.

He stole so much water from the canal, they sent a crew to concrete the old feed gates closed.

The German was sent to a special clinic for assault victims where his injuries were documented. He told me the place was full of battered women waiting to be seen.

The case is registered, but without witnesses it's not expected to stick. The bully simply denies the whole thing.

I almost had a fight with him too. Managed to diffuse it.

Such people are everywhere, I've encountered them on 3 continents.

Again, sorry to hear that this happened to you.

Please do report it. The next time he does it the victim may not be as lucky. In the town I live we have issues like this from amphetamine users.

You should CERTAINLY report it. Forget the anonymous thing. Just go and report it and give a good description. Yes police procedures take time etc.. But there is such a thing as civic duty.

The fact that there are no witnesses other than yourself is not a reason for not reporting.

The police would at minimum be in a position to give him a warning. He might even 'admit' it if they catch him under the influence of something.

But anyway, your report may become one of several : which would enable the local police to build up a picture. And he might do it again to you !

I agree..... Portugal is a safe country, so all the more reason that actions like these be called out - particularly is, as it seems, the agressor was foreign. The police will fid someone who can talk to you in english, particularly in the Algarve!

The last thing Portugal needs is to import problems from elsewhere..... however, be aware that your report may "seem" to do nothing immediately, because you will report to the PSP or GNR, depending on where you are - but any investigation will be down to the PJ (Polícia Judiciária, the CID of Portugal), because the others have no investigative authority.... they can only pass on their report. This might seem bureaucratic or "clumsy", but it works well... the first two devote their time to "active" policing, the PJ concentrate on investigation of reported crime. Therefore the officer to whom you report may know nothing of any similar reports, but the PJ will be able to collate them all....

The guy wasn't a local, so why shouldn't you report the problem?

Well, I tried. I went to the police station yesterday morning and told the nice officer what happened. He simply gave me a piece of paper with the phone number of the police station on it and said call us if you see him again.

Hi sportpix whist I sympathise with your predicament the problem with anonymouse reports is they could be used as a means of revenge against anyone who had upset someone else with no truth in the report

Did you get a report number? You are entitled to a record of your conversation.......

I did not.

I'm very sorry to hear that you had this nasty experience - but well done for reporting - even though it seems to have been a damp squib. At least one would hope the GNR night take some action if someone fitting this description does it again. Unfortunately, nice places attract undesirables as well as those who are law abiding.

Thanks for your comment. It was not something I would like to happen again and it has made me wary of just about everyone who comes within touching distance. This is a shame as up to that sad moment I felt totally safe in what I term as "sleepy Lagos". Sadly, you are correct about undesirables being attracted, and since the tourists have been returning in greater numbers the amount of strange-looking people has also increased. I'm happy with the buskers belting out their songs and tunes but there are also some shifty looking people who I do my very best to steer well clear of. And the cretin that attacked me was back in Lagos recently as I saw him in the local supermarket, complete with guitar. A day or two later I saw him sitting by the side of the 125 thumbing a lift to Aljezur. I very much hope he stays there but I suspect he moves around the Algarve and at some point will be back. I was told by a local friend to forget any help from the police unless I had more than one credible witness, which I didn't on the day of the attack.

I hope he doesn't stay there; I live in Aljezur!

Oops! But then, as you stated in your earlier message, you already have your own thug in your area. To recap, this cretin is well built, over six feet tall with unkempt shoulder length blonde hair and carries around a guitar in a case. If you should see him in your area please avoid him.

I'll keep an eye out; in reality, I live out at the edge of the camara and don't encounter many people altogether except when I go shopping.