The City Council of Sant Antoni de Portmany has carried out this Wednesday the second Local Security Board of the year, which has made a positive balance of the operations developed during the tourist season and have analyzed the lines of action for next year.
The mayor, Marcos Serra, has valued “very positively” the collaboration between the Local Police, the Civil Guard and the National Police, stressing that the coordination between bodies has been “key” to ensure public safety during the summer months. “The joint work has allowed us to respond effectively to major incidents, although we continue to demand more troops from the Civil Guard to maintain a stable presence throughout the season,” said the mayor.
More actions and arrests
During the tourist season, between the months of May and September, the Local Police of Sant Antoni has carried out 385 actions related to the Law of Public Safety, including offenses for possession or consumption of narcotics, resistance to authority and disturbances of public order.
In terms of coexistence and urban control, the police force has processed 149 complaints for street vending, 46 for illegal camping, 24 for musical noise, 18 for dynamic advertising and 14 for improper occupation of public space. Likewise, 19 pirate cabs were reported for illegal passenger transportation.
In the area of public health, the actions have resulted in 117 arrests, of which 54 are related to drug trafficking and 63 to the sale of nitrous oxide, one of the main concerns of the Public Safety area.
Fight against nitrous oxide and new sanctioning measures
The Councilor for Citizen Safety, Neus Mateu, has highlighted the intensive work against the sale of nitrous oxide, recalling that, despite numerous arrests, offenders often reoffend due to the lack of more forceful legal tools. “We are working on the implementation of a municipal ordinance that will allow us to sanction consumers as well, to close the circle of impunity,” he explained.
Mateu recalled that this substance not only generates nuisances on public roads, but also constitutes a risk to health and coexistence, especially in nightlife areas.
Joint operations and highlights
During the meeting, the joint operation developed this summer in the Tanit building, promoted by the Department of Public Safety in collaboration with the Civil Guard, which ended with the search of two houses and the arrest of several people, was highlighted.
The mayor, Marcos Serra, pointed out that these actions “demonstrate the effectiveness of inter-institutional cooperation” and reaffirmed the will of the consistory to “continue working to eradicate properties linked to crime and drug trafficking”.
For her part, the island director of the General State Administration, Raquel Guasch, highlighted the central government’s commitment to tourist destinations such as Sant Antoni. “More resources have been allocated to high impact operations and the results have been very positive, with an increase in proceedings and arrests. Sant Antoni is a safe municipality and that is a shared conclusion,” he stressed.
More agents and video surveillance
This year, the City Council has reinforced its human and technological resources with the aim of improving prevention and the capacity to respond to incidents. Ten new Local Police positions have been created, twelve agents of Intrusion and Coexistence and six of private security, which has increased the staff from 59 to 69, approaching the goal of 80 agents.
At the same time, the investment in video surveillance cameras has been increased, which with the new contract will make it possible to exceed one hundred active devices in the municipality, facilitating the control of sensitive areas and the deterrence of criminal behavior.
Renovation of the SATE and reinforcement of the Viogen protocol
The Local Security Board approved the renewal of the SATE (Foreign Tourist Assistance Service) agreement, which will continue to operate during the summer months. The new office, located on the promenade of s’Arenal, has obtained very positive results due to its strategic location and its multilingual attention to visitors.
An addendum was also added to the Viogen agreement, in collaboration with the Guardia Civil, in order to improve the care and protection of victims of gender violence and adapt the protocol to the new state regulations.
“The results of the season reflect effective management and exemplary coordination between administrations and security forces,” concluded Mayor Marcos Serra, who reaffirmed the City Council’s commitment to a public safety policy based on prevention, cooperation and continuous improvement of resources.
