L'Hospitalet de Llobregat recorded a 10.6% fall in reported crime in the first half of 2026, with 10,632 criminal offences logged from January to June. The reduction of 1,258 offences compared with the same period in 2025 means fewer reported crimes for residents and businesses, but theft remains the municipality's most frequent offence.
El Periódico reported the half-year figures on 19 July. L'Hospitalet, in the Barcelonès area, had experienced rising crime in previous years.
Theft remains the largest category
Theft accounted for 3,613 of the 10,632 offences recorded during the first six months of 2026. The reported total remains substantial despite the year-on-year decrease.
- 10,632 criminal offences were recorded between January and June 2026.
- 10.6% was the reduction compared with January to June 2025.
- 1,258 fewer offences were reported than a year earlier.
- 3,613 reported offences were thefts.
Mossos operation focused on violent robbery and knives
The decline follows the deployment of Pla Bastió, a Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, operation launched on 15 April to reduce violent robberies and the presence of bladed weapons in public spaces.
In a police briefing reported in May, officers said the operation had opened seven investigations and made 28 arrests for violent incidents. Three of those arrested had been remanded in custody.
Police identified the centre, Santa Eulàlia, Pubilla Cases, La Florida, Collblanc and La Torrassa as areas where many incidents occurred. They said most reported incidents took place between 1.30pm and 10pm, and that electric scooters featured in 50% of robberies.
Reported by Source Text Link, Àlex Rebollo, Agencia EFE, europapress.es, estadisticasdecriminalidad.ses.mir.es, CatalunyaPress.es, Miriam Saint-Germain, El Llobregat, elpais.com, lhdigital.cat, elplural.com, El Periódico Barcelona.
