GNR front line personnel are being taught English and German so they can interact with visitors and residents who lack skills in the portuguese language. Training sessions are taking place or scheduled in Portimão, Albufeira and Tavira.
Altogether about a hundred members of the Algarve GNR will take the language course.
In Portimão 20 officers already have started the 50 hour course in English and in Tavira the German course will start in early 2014 with 30 GNR students.
The after hours training will be "an asset to the GNR, given that the Algarve presents itself as a tourist destination visited by people of various nationalities, and English and German are fundamental skills with which to communicate with the public," according to Faro Command.
The training is in partnership with the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training.
