Barcelona City Council's Presidency, Security and Interior Regime Commission approved an integral plan on Wednesday to enhance security and coexistence in the Poble-sec and La Marina neighbourhoods. This initiative directly addresses recent serious shootings and ongoing resident concerns within the Sants-Montjuïc district.
The plan, proposed by the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) Municipal Group, received broad support. The Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya (PSC), Junts per Catalunya, and Barcelona en Comú voted in favour, while the Partit Popular (PP) abstained. Vox voted against the proposal. The new strategy aims to expand the presence of civic agents. It will also improve degraded public spaces. Additionally, it will launch inclusion programmes for vulnerable young people and individuals.
Jordi Coronas from ERC expressed significant concern about the "complex issues" affecting Poble-sec, La Marina de Port, and La Marina del Prat Vermell. He highlighted recent shootings in the area. Coronas stressed the need for increased police pressure. He also called for addressing root causes through more street teams and stronger community partnerships.
Raquel Gil, Councillor for the Sants-Montjuïc district, acknowledged "serious shootings" and a "sense of insecurity" in La Marina. However, she noted that general crime data indicates a decrease in overall criminal activity. The Sants-Montjuïc district, home to over 180,000 residents, encompasses these areas. Poble-sec is known for its cultural venues and proximity to Montjuïc. La Marina, a historically industrial area, is currently undergoing significant urban transformation.
Integral Approach to Safety
The approved plan advocates for a coexistence model based on "proximity and mediation." It also explicitly calls for an expanded presence of both the Guàrdia Urbana and the Mossos d'Esquadra. This dual approach seeks to combine law enforcement with community-focused interventions. The text differentiates between organised crime and the vulnerability of homeless individuals living in areas like Montjuïc mountain. It argues that the solution is not "exclusively more police and tougher Penal Code" measures.
Neus Munté of Junts per Catalunya described the ERC proposal as "opportune." She stated that security and social rights complement each other effectively. Munté supported the initiative but emphasised that "talking about coexistence without effective security is frivolous." She therefore insisted on the need for a stronger police presence.
Political Support and Divergence
Barcelona en Comú also supported the plan, advocating for an "integral" response to resident worries. They criticised the socialist mandate for allegedly deprioritising Poble-sec and La Marina. The Partit Popular agreed with the diagnosis of the issues. However, they believed the plan needed more emphasis on police presence and sanctioning capabilities. This led to their abstention from the vote. Vox rejected the plan entirely, calling it a "catch-all" document. They argued its measures might help combat poverty but were insufficient for tackling criminal gangs.
The approved text includes a proposal to establish a follow-up table in each neighbourhood. These tables will monitor the plan's implementation. They will also address ongoing security and coexistence issues directly with residents and local businesses. Councillor Gil mentioned that two such tables already operate with residents, citizens, and merchants. These existing forums already generate improvement proposals.
Future Steps for Community Safety
The City Council will now start implementing this integral plan. This initiative seeks to create safer and more integrated communities in Poble-sec and La Marina. It represents a multi-faceted approach to complex urban challenges. The ongoing monitoring through neighbourhood tables will be critical for its success.
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Originally published by betevé. Read original article.
