After nearly six months in office, Manuel Lafuente Lázaro was formally sworn in as the Alicante Provincial Police Commissioner this week, following his recent appointment as the new head of the state police. The National Police leadership underscored the strategic priorities of his mandate: protecting victims, with a focus on the most vulnerable, and pursuing data-driven prevention to boost effectiveness and efficiency.
Lafuente, during a formal inauguration at a Mediterranean House event, pledged to strengthen the police response to organized crime. He emphasized that the challenge spans both common crime and terrorism, and that cybercrime is expanding in scope and impact, affecting crime patterns and victimization in profound ways.
The provincial superintendent noted that cybercrime remains a specialty that is exceptionally hard to tackle because of its global reach and rapid evolution.
Receiving the command baton from the senior chief of the Valencia Community Police, Lafuente Jorge Martin, he expressed his intention to raise security levels while affirming that Alicante is a safe state.
Trust the Police
On the other hand, the new commissioner aims to fortify public confidence among citizens, judges and prosecutors, business owners, and all segments of society in the National Police.
The provincial police chief spoke about a commitment to constructive collaboration with unions and a drive to improve both management and operational efficiency.
A large turnout attended the opening, including the Government delegate, the co-delegate, and the mayor of Alicante.
Pilar Bernabé, the Government delegate for the Community, highlighted that the Spanish Government has increased the number of National Police officers in the Alicante province by more than 14 percent, reversing the trend from earlier years. She added that deploying the personnel and expertise of the State Security Forces and Bodies is essential for handling new crimes such as cybercrime and for addressing sexist violence.
Bernabé spoke about maintaining a high level of professionalism among the 2,500 National Police officers in the province. She described them as the main guarantors of freedom and fundamental rights, emphasizing the important role of the State Security Forces in upholding democratic values and resilience in the face of recent crises, including the pandemic and the conflicts unfolding in Ukraine.