THREE KINGS TO ARRIVE SAFELY

EXTRA security measures will be deployed this evening for the traditional Three Kings parades throughout the Costa Blanca.

Additional police patrols and obstacles to avoid road access by unauthorised vehicles will be in place - measures similar to those taken for the Christmas and New Year open-air parties (see page 4).

To see where parades and other events are taking place in your area, turn to our What's On section on pages 33 to 41.

New Year party mayhem

Emergency services in the Valencia region were called out to 1,253 incidents on New Year’s Eve in the 12-hour period between 20.00 and 08.00.

Director general for security in Valencia José María Ángel noted that there had been a total of 3,648 calls to the 112 hotline during the night, with 24 of these made in English, German or French.

Of the incidents attended, 596 occurred in Valencia province, 518 in Alicante and 135 in Castellón, ‘with four others which have yet to be identified’.

Paramedics were called to 143 cases of alcoholic intoxication around the region, with 69 of these in Alicante province, 64 in Valencia and 10 in Castellón.

Ambulances were also required at 39 violent incidents which involved fights or injury – 18 in Valencia, 16 in Alicante and five in Castellón.

Sr Ángel also noted that a number of inspections had been carried out at leisure outlets.

Regional police officers checked on 102 bars, restaurants, discos and clubs.

They have opened disciplinary proceedings against 28 of them, in the main for staying open longer than the times permitted by their licence or having too many people inside the venue.