State Surveillance and Defense Police

The State Surveillance and Defense Police (Polícia de Vigilância e Defesa do Estado) (PVDE) was a police force of the Portuguese State, which operated between 1933 and 1945. The PVDE was responsible for border surveillance, control of foreigners, immigration control, and state security.

State Surveillance and Defense Police
Polícia de Vigilância e Defesa do Estado
AbbreviationPVDE
Agency overview
Formed1933
Preceding agency
  • Portuguese International Police
    Political and Social Defense Police
Dissolved1945
Superseding agencyPIDE
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyPortugal
Operations jurisdictionPortugal
Governing bodyGovernment of Portugal
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
  • National border patrol, security, and integrity.