Barcelona City Council plans to install 660 public-space surveillance cameras by 2027, according to a report by Russpain, with proposed coverage including El Born, the Carmel bunkers, Anella Olímpica and Pegaso Park.

For residents and visitors, the plan would add monitored areas at several parks, squares and busy public spaces. Russpain said Barcelona currently operates 186 active cameras in public areas and that the new devices would not use facial recognition or artificial intelligence-based identification.

Proposed cameras at six named locations

The report attributes the rollout details to Albert Batlle, Barcelona's security chief. It says the following installations have received the necessary authorisations:

  • nine cameras on Passeig del Born;
  • 11 at the Carmel bunkers;
  • 30 at Anella Olímpica;
  • 19 in Pegaso Park; and
  • 30 shared between Fira de Bellcaire and Fort Pienc.

Russpain said the request for Pegaso Park predated a fatal shooting in which a teenager was killed in July. The report said police incident records had already identified criminal activity in the area.

More locations await regional clearance

Further camera proposals cover Guineueta Park, Plaça Àngel Pestaña, Plaça Roja in Nou Barris and Plaça Universitat in Eixample, Russpain reported. These installations are awaiting final clearance from the Generalitat, Catalonia's regional government, and are expected before 2027 if approved.

All public-camera installations require authorisation from the Generalitat and oversight by the Catalan Commission for the Control of Video Surveillance Devices, according to the report. The rules require that surveillance is necessary, proportionate and causes the least possible intrusion into privacy.

Existing rollout includes Plaça Catalunya and Plaça Reial

The first phase has activated 26 cameras in Plaça Catalunya and the Front Marítim since October, Russpain said. Six more are being installed on Avinguda de la Catedral, while work has started on 20 cameras in Plaça Reial.

The report also said that 30 cameras at Barcelona City Hall will be replaced and that 21 new devices are planned for Rambla del Raval, where civil works are scheduled for September.

Russpain reported that Batlle said camera sites are selected using crime analysis, vulnerability, serious public-order incidents and the risk of terrorist targeting.

Residents in the named areas can expect installations only where the required regional authorisations are granted. The reported plan would cover just over 5% of Barcelona's public space.

Reported by russpain.com.