Raising Workplace Safety Standards
The professional association Justicia para la Guardia Civil (Jucil) has formally asked the Directorate General of the Guardia Civil to provide individual ballistic flotation vests for the crews of the Maritime Service vessels. The request comes in the wake of the February 9 incident in Barbate, where the killings of Guardia Civil officers David Pérez and Miguel Ángel González highlighted a noticeable increase in violence during operations within national waters.
In a letter signed by Melisa Carmona, a board member and national secretary for Occupational Risks, Jucil notes that after the Barbate tragedy, when officers were working to identify users of several narco-lantern boats anchored in the port, personnel reported a lack of adequate resources. Specifically, the absence of ballistic flotation vests for Maritime Service personnel tasked with counter-narcotic operations is called out as a critical shortcoming.
Occupational Risks
Jucil states in its communication that the occupational risk assessments for Guardia Civil units, carried out by the relevant prevention bodies, include the risk of armed aggression. The preventive measure associated with this risk is the use of ballistic vests. The association points to the high number of attacks on law enforcement officers and notes that on many occasions weapons are involved, underscoring the importance of proper vest use in line with the equipment supplied to units and sized to fit each officer. Carmona adds that there are increasing reports of firearms found among drug-trafficking detainees, intensifying safety concerns.
She explains that the Maritime Service operates both in ports and on open water, which makes it essential that ballistic vests not only protect against physical assaults but also function as a flotation aid. In their view, dual-purpose gear should enhance safety during maritime missions and ensure crews remain buoyant if a dangerous incident occurs at sea.
The association references multiple online sources showing how these dual-function vests provide both flotation and ballistic protection. For this reason, Jucil has urged the Directorate General to supply the Guardia Civil Maritime Service with ballistic flotation vests tailored to the needs of the officers and sized appropriately.