In Alicante, representatives from the JUPOL union joined discussions with the National Police to address persistent concerns about staffing levels and the outdated nature of the current job catalogs. They argue that the safety needs of residents and visitors are not being fully met, pointing to a noticeable uptick in crime as a sign that resources and modern practices are lagging behind demand. During a recent press briefing, Aarón Rivero, the Secretary General of JUPOL, and David García, the Provincial Secretary, outlined these concerns and emphasized the urgency of action. [Citation: JUPOL Alicante press conference]
Rivero engaged with state union colleagues in Alicante to scrutinize the available material and human resources, and to benchmark them against Spain’s national averages. The nationwide reference stands at roughly 30 representatives per 10,000 residents, a level that Alicante has not yet reached. Rivero and García underscored that the staffing rate remains insufficient and argued that the police catalog has not seen a meaningful update since 2008, a stagnation they believe hampers effective policing and modernization of duties. [Citation: JUPOL Alicante press conference]
Aarón Rivero and David García were pictured at a JUPOL appearance in Alicante. [Credit: Alex Dominguez]
David García warned of a rising pattern of crimes affecting personal safety, including sexual freedom violations and interpersonal violence, and described the situation in Benidorm as particularly concerning. In that city, injuries climbed dramatically, rising from 6 incidents to 19, while reported rapes increased from 7 to 22 within the year, signaling a worrisome trend that requires immediate attention and targeted interventions. [Citation: JUPOL Alicante press conference]
attacks on agents
The leadership of JUPOL cautioned about a growing number of assaults on law enforcement officers. García highlighted that ten officers sustained injuries during three operations in Benidorm within ten days, a statistic that reflects increasing street violence and a perceived erosion of respect for authority. He stressed that this trend is deeply troubling and calls for a robust, coordinated response from both police leadership and public safety authorities. [Citation: JUPOL Alicante press conference]
Beyond the immediate need to raise staffing levels in police stations, JUPOL Alicante province urged the Interior Ministry to equip officers with essential protective gear, including bulletproof vests. The union argues that every officer should be protected with reliable body armor. García announced that one of JUPOL’s formal complaints to the Police Headquarters regarding the distribution of vests to all officers will be addressed in Alicante for the first time this coming May. The union also highlighted demands for compensation ranging from 5,000 to 40,000 euros to recognize the risk factors faced by officers in the line of duty. [Citation: JUPOL Alicante press conference]
Rivero also accused Internal Affairs of manipulating crime statistics and pressed for an update of the job catalogs, arguing that crime realities have moved well beyond the 2008 figures and require a contemporary framework to guide deployment and priorities. [Citation: JUPOL Alicante press conference]
The union further called for the rapid creation of new units and the establishment of additional outposts in Benidorm and Denia to improve coverage and response times for residents and tourists alike. [Citation: JUPOL Alicante press conference]