Barcelona City Council plans to install surveillance cameras on Ronda Sant Antoni, at Plaça Universitat and in their immediate surroundings, with the devices expected to start operating in the first three months of 2027.

The project affects two busy areas used by Sant Antoni residents and visitors near the boundary between the Eixample and Ciutat Vella districts. The council estimates the budget at €672,879.07, according to reporting by El Periódico.

Jordi Valls, the councillor responsible for Eixample, announced the Sant Antoni deployment at the latest district council meeting. Mayor Jaume Collboni’s administration says Barcelona has had too few surveillance systems to deter crime and antisocial behaviour on its streets.

A separate, approved project will place 30 cameras across Encants Vells, Estació del Nord and streets in the Fort Pienc neighbourhood. The council says installation there should also be completed in the first three months of 2027.

How the citywide camera plan works

The projects form part of a citywide plan to add 500 cameras to the 160 that existed before the expansion began, for a planned total of 660. The additions are scheduled across the period from late 2025 to 2027.

In a separate council notice on the surveillance plan, the city reported that 186 cameras were operational. That figure includes 26 new cameras already operating in Plaça de Catalunya and along the seafront, in addition to the 160-camera starting figure.

The council says the 500 new devices are planned for 34 locations across all city districts. It selects sites using criteria that include crime rates, vulnerability and serious public-order problems identified by police.

Camera installations require a favourable assessment from the Catalan Video Surveillance Device Control Commission, which is chaired by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia. Final authorisation is then required from the regional government’s security administration.

In its separate notice, the council said Plaça Universitat had received a favourable commission assessment and was awaiting final authorisation. The latest schedule reported by El Periódico puts the planned start of operation in the first quarter of 2027.

Other locations and privacy safeguards

The council’s notice also lists newly authorised cameras at five busy locations:

  • Nine on Passeig del Born.
  • 11 at the Carmel bunkers.
  • 30 at the Olympic Ring.
  • 19 in Parc de la Pegaso.
  • 30 across Fira de Bellcaire and Fort Pienc.

The notice also describes work on six cameras on Avinguda de la Catedral, 20 in Plaça Reial and 21 on Rambla del Raval. The city says cameras can deter offences, assist investigations and provide evidence.

According to the council, the system does not use facial recognition or artificial intelligence-based identification. It says installation must meet requirements of necessity, proportionality and minimal intrusion into privacy.

When all four phases of the plan are complete, the council estimates that video surveillance will cover about 5.16% of Barcelona’s public space.

Sources: El Periódico, Ajuntament de Barcelona.