Police security crackdown

A special pre-summer operation by National Police has hit drug dealing, hug-muggers and pick-pocketing thieves mainly targetting tourists in the resort

A SPECIAL National Police crackdown on petty crime, ahead of the summer season, has led to the identification of 40 people and the detention of 17 allegedly involved in criminal activities throughout Benidorm.

Since May 30, police officers have been taking part in specific operations focusing mainly on tourist areas such as Rincón de Loix, the promenades and popular nightspots.

Close cooperation between judicial police, foreigners and borders officers and scientific police units has resulted in a serious blow to drug trafficking, the so-called hug-muggings and pickpocketing in these areas.

Throughout one month, officers have identified 40 people believed to have a connection with such activities in the resort - 17 were detained and escorted to the local National Police station for further investigation into their records.

Finally, four people have been remanded in custody - one for drug trafficking, two for being in Spain illegally, and a fourth due to a pending arrest order over a violent incident.

The man detained for drug trafficking was found in possession of a bag of ecstasy pills.

Summer campaign

The arrival of thousands of tourists over the summer months will be putting and extra strain on the local and national police forces.

Although the local National Police chief commissioner Alfredo Garrido has insisted the force has 'sufficient staff' to cope with the extra work, special reinforcements will be arriving in Benidorm.

Officers will be temporarily transfered from Valencia and Zaragoza during the peak season and 25 officers in practice will also be deployed along with a mounted police unit over the same period.

Although no UK officers will be arriving on the usual European police forces exchange programme, two policemen from France and another two from Portugal are expected.