The latest crime report from the Ministry of Interior highlights a rise in several offense categories within the Alicante province. The study shows increases across injuries, violent robberies, and sexual crimes, with overall offenses climbing by 27.5 percent in the January-to-March window compared to the same period in 2021. In 2021, 16,124 crimes were recorded, rising to 20,556 in the first quarter of the following year, signaling a notable shift in crime patterns during this period.
Some observers might view the uptick as troubling for both the province and the broader country. However, the data reflects a time when Covid restrictions were still in place, making it essential to compare with 2019 figures to gauge a more accurate baseline. When 2019 figures are used for comparison, there is a slight overall decrease in crime, with 20,708 records in Alicante between January and March 2019, versus 20,556 for the same period in the latest year under review, indicating a nuanced trend rather than a straightforward surge.
The report identifies the largest growth by crime type in intentional and completed homicides, and in injuries and violent confrontations. These categories show significant increases, with some periods reporting a doubling of incidents. The balance sheet notes that while five crimes occurred in the province in the current first quarter, none were recorded in the same period the year before. Conversely, injuries and fighting offenses saw a rise from 104 to 231 cases, underscoring shifting dynamics in public safety concerns for the period.
Crimes against sexual freedom continue to rise, with 209 cases reported—an increase of 45.1 percent from the previous year. This category includes acts such as sexual assaults and rape, which grew from 18 to 34 cases, an 88.9 percent rise. Security authorities attribute part of this increase to heightened public awareness and reporting, which helps bring more cases to light and improves capture by the Security Forces and Bodies. This perspective suggests that improved reporting may account for part of the observed rise, alongside actual changes in crime incidence.
Robberies with violence and intimidation rose sharply, with counts up by 77.3 percent, while overall thefts increased by 53.4 percent, totaling 4,768 complaints. Home burglaries grew by 12.6 percent, adding 1,379 incidents, and vehicle theft inched up by 2.1 percent, with 239 more cases recorded. These figures illustrate a mixed picture where some major categories show sharp increases while others remain relatively stable or rise only modestly.
The report also includes a visual graph illustrating delinquency in municipalities with populations above 20,000, and emphasizes the overall picture for the Alicante region. The Home Affairs dataset covers the first quarter and remains a key reference for understanding crime trends in larger municipalities within the province.
Looking at the broader picture, Benidorm, Xàbia, and Calp show notable increases of 64.8 percent, 60.7 percent, and 54.2 percent respectively, in the first quarter. Yet the broader context is not uniformly negative when compared to pre-pandemic levels. For instance, Benidorm recorded 1,213 crimes in 2019, which is 356 fewer than the latest quarter, suggesting a normalization as restrictions ease and tourism resumes. Other municipalities like Mutxamel and Eldaup show smaller increases of 1.7 percent and 4.5 percent respectively, highlighting regional variation within the province.
Across the Valencian Community as a whole, crime rose by 30.4 percent. Within the province of Castellón the increase stood at 16.8 percent, while Valencia saw a higher rise of 34.7 percent. Observers are watching carefully how these regional shifts align with social and economic factors that influence crime patterns in the region.
Inquiries from the JUPOL union prompted questions to the Government Delegation about police staffing during periods of rising crime and suggested expanding the Police jobs catalog to support frontline officers. These discussions reflect ongoing concerns about resource allocation and public safety capacity in the face of changing crime dynamics.
The Home Affairs report for the first quarter of 2022 covers Alicante municipalities with populations over 20,000 and highlights the areas where crime has increased the most. It shows a mixed pattern across towns like Benidorm, Xàbia, and Calp, with large percentage changes but a broader context that includes periods of relative stability when compared to pre-pandemic baselines. These insights help authorities assess where to focus preventive measures and community safety efforts in the near term.