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In recent months, the deteriorating state of potholes in the roads, piles of uncollected rubbish, and the condition of the beaches have all received deserved criticism. However, the rising crime rate has gone largely unreported. Perhaps it’s due to underreporting, or maybe it’s because these incidents are deemed too insignificant to be officially recorded.
Regardless, this is no comfort to those affected by crimes such as home intrusions, stolen items, and at times, the use of violence. Residents have been targeted in broad daylight, with watches, rings, and jewellery ripped from their hands, resulting in injuries and stress.
Videos are circulating showing properties being “cased,” with front gates being tested for locks by groups of men. Cars are being stolen or broken into in broad daylight, and violent crimes are on the rise.
It is well-known that there is a serious lack of police presence along the coast. Below is data kindly provided by Unidos X La Costa, and I thank them for allowing me to share this with the residents of Orihuela Costa.
Unidos X La Costa Data:
“We believe that the large size of Orihuela Costa, its population, and the scattered nature of its neighbourhoods justify a greater police presence than what currently exists.
The Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) recommends one police officer for every 667 inhabitants. Given Orihuela Costa’s registered population of around 30,000, it should have at least 45 police officers.
According to our estimates, this is far from the reality. Furthermore, the actual population of Orihuela Costa typically exceeds 100,000, making this ratio even more inadequate.”
Currently, there are around 23 local police officers on the coast, with no Civil Guard presence at the moment. The Civil Guard still comes from Torre de la Horadada.
Last week, it was reported that Torrevieja had invested in 17 new vehicles to complement its fleet. Yet, despite all the wealth generated along the coast, our security remains severely under-resourced.
For comparison, La Nucia, with a population of around 18,000, has over 220 CCTV cameras in operation. When we asked two years ago about the possibility of using CCTV on the coast, we were told it was illegal. However, this is not the case—it only requires permission from the central government’s sub-delegation in Alicante, which takes a bit of effort.
Not long after our request was refused, Orihuela invested heavily in CCTV for their own use.
Differences Between the Police and the Civil Guard:
Spain has multiple types of police forces due to its decentralized governance, historical development, and the need to address specific regional and functional responsibilities. The main forces include:
· National Police (Policía Nacional): Primarily operates in cities and urban areas. They are responsible for criminal investigations, including organized crime, terrorism, and immigration control. They also oversee passport issuance and some national security matters.
· Civil Guard (Guardia Civil): Operates more in rural areas and smaller towns, as well as highways. Their responsibilities include traffic control, border security, and protecting national infrastructure. They also work on organized crime and terrorism but have a stronger presence in less urbanized regions.
· Local Police (Policía Local): Focus on municipal law enforcement, including traffic management, urban safety, and local regulations enforcement. Local police work within the jurisdiction of a particular municipality.
This system, we are told, allows for specialized policing in different areas while ensuring efficient law enforcement across the country.
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