A 37-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday afternoon after several officers were injured during an unauthorised street-vending control in Plaça de la Bòbila, in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat's Pubilla Cases neighbourhood.
The confrontation began when officers moved to stop an illegal stall. For residents using the square and nearby regulated businesses, the Guàrdia Urbana de L'Hospitalet, the municipality's local police force, said controls in the area will continue to protect public space, neighbourhood coexistence and commercial activity.
Three district units deployed to the square
The Guàrdia Urbana said it sent three district units to Plaça de la Bòbila because it is one of the locations in Pubilla Cases where unauthorised street vending, commonly known as top manta, is most frequent.
Officers detected a stall and intervened to stop sales, police said. A man believed to be the vendor then allegedly reacted violently and assaulted officers.
The man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting law-enforcement officers. Police said proceedings have been opened and that they seized an electric scooter and material intended for street vending during the operation.
Police link enforcement to public space and local trade
The force said the controls concern more than public order, citing the effect of unauthorised stalls on businesses that comply with regulations and provide guarantees over the origin and quality of goods.
“Controlling unauthorised street vending also means defending our commerce.”
Police said sales outside legal channels create unfair competition and do not offer the same guarantees on products' origin, quality or oversight. The confiscated scooter and vending material remain part of the case proceedings.
Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat, Ajuntament de L'Hospitalet, seuelectronica.l-h.cat, Ramon. Reported by lavanguardia.com, Guàrdia Urbana de L'Hospitalet, Javier Sánchez, ACN, lhdigital.cat, Redacción, cronicaglobal.elespanol.com, cronicanegra.com, Maria Pentinat, María Arenas, Orsolya Gazdagi, Alfonso L. Congostrina, Montse Riart, La Vanguardia Barcelona.
