19 New Officers Join L'Hospitalet's Urban Guard
The L'Hospitalet de Llobregat City Council has welcomed 19 new officers into its Urban Guard, marking another step in a broader transformation of the force aimed at enhancing operational capacity and community engagement. Since June 2024, when Mayor David Quirós took office, 52 officers under the age of 35 have joined the corps as part of a deliberate effort to rejuvenate the workforce. During their probationary period, the recruits will be deployed across various units under the supervision of experienced officers. In a public presentation on Tuesday 08 September 2026, Mayor Quirós described L'Hospitalet as an "extraordinary city to learn and practice" policing due to its complexity and diversity. He urged the new recruits: "Here you will be street, neighborhood, and people's police. Never lose sight of the fact that behind every service there is someone who expects professionalism, proximity, and help from you."
Future Recruitment Drives Confirmed
The council confirmed that 36 additional officers are expected to join in the coming years, 27 through open competitive examinations and nine via inter-administrative mobility. A call for 27 new positions was officially published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado on 25 May 2026 (BOE-A-2026-11214), following approval in the Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya on 15 May 2026. Applicants must meet specific criteria, including Catalan language proficiency at B2 level, according to publicly available job notices. The recruitment process is managed by the Ajuntament de L'Hospitalet and follows formal procedures outlined in municipal and regional civil service frameworks.
Badalona Adds 24 New Local Police Officers
On the same day, Badalona presented 24 new officers at a public event attended by Mayor Xavier Garcia Albiol. This latest intake brings the total number of new recruits since the start of Albiol’s current mandate to 90–23 in 2023, 43 in 2024, and 24 so far in 2026. Albiol called on the officers to be "kind and attentive to the residents of Badalona," but also "forceful with all those who break the law." Chief Superintendent Òscar Parada emphasized the vocation of service and loyalty required of each officer, reminding them they represent both the institution and the city.
Security is not proclaimed, it needs action.
, Mayor Xavier Garcia Albiol, Badalona City Council
Major Expansion Plans Underway
In April 2026, Badalona’s full council approved the creation of 50 new permanent positions for the Urban Guard, reinforcing a model focused on citizen proximity and permanent functional service lines. If all planned hires are completed, the municipal government estimates a total of 157 new officers will have been added by the end of the term. This expansion aligns with other security initiatives, including a recently tendered contract for the installation of 615 video surveillance cameras across the city. According to the mayor, while crime data shows improvement, challenges remain, particularly when individuals arrested are quickly back on the streets. Residents can follow official updates on recruitment and public safety through the Badalona City Council website and the L'Hospitalet police recruitment portal.
Primary sources: badalona.cat, boe.es, Dinamització local. Reported by elperiodico.com, empleopublico.eu, apdnoticies.com, ACN, metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, El Llobregat, lavanguardia.com, El Periódico Barcelona.
