New Firearms and Protection Gear Ordered
The Barcelona City Council’s Area Management for Security, Prevention, and Coexistence, led by Albert Batlle, has launched a public tender to acquire 1,520 new pistols for the Guàrdia Urbana de Barcelona. The purchase, which includes VAT, is valued at €1,338,647.20 and will cover standard and compact models to be delivered in 2027 and 2028. The procurement is divided into two lots. The first includes 750 standard-issue pistols for 2027 and another 750 for 2028, each priced at €641. These semi-automatic 9mm Parabellum weapons must have magazines holding 15 to 17 rounds, ergonomic grips, and accessories for left-handed users. They must also carry the inscription 'Guàrdia Urbana de Barcelona' and include manuals in Catalan or Spanish.
Compact Pistols and Weapon Retirement
Only 20 compact semi-automatic pistols will be acquired over the two years, each costing €729. These are shorter than standard models and must have magazines with 6 to 15 rounds. As part of the contract, the winning supplier must take back obsolete firearms, removing the force’s insignia unless the weapons are to be destroyed. This requirement is outlined in the technical specifications document from the tender process, accessible via the Contractació Pública portal.
Ballistic Protection for Elite Units
In parallel, the council will spend €73,071.90 on ballistic protection for officers in the Unit for Reinforcement in Emergencies and Proximity (UREP), the local police’s public order unit. This includes two rigid shields at €3,810 each, one modular or foldable shield at €5,850, 12 helmets at €2,490 each, and 12 plate carriers at €1,420 each.
To equip these vehicles with the capacity to respond to armed threats in an anti-terrorist context, the acquisition of personal ballistic protection material is necessary.
The justification report links this purchase to the addition of six new rapid intervention vehicles for emergencies (VIRE), intended to improve response times during high-risk operations. According to the report, equipping these vehicles for anti-terrorist scenarios requires enhanced personal protection. The city states this action falls under municipal competence and aligns with occupational safety regulations. Residents can review the full procurement details and supporting documents through the city’s transparency portal, where the legal basis references Article 128 of Chapter XVI of Law 22/1998, the Municipal Charter of Barcelona, affirming the Guàrdia Urbana’s role in municipal security.
Primary sources: Ajuntament de Barcelona, ajuntament.barcelona.cat. Reported by totbarcelona.cat, contractaciopublica.cat, Tot Barcelona.
