Barcelona Strengthens Security: New Agreement Between Urban Guard and Mossos

The Urban Guard of Barcelona and the Mossos d'Esquadra have signed a new agreement that expands the local police's powers in processing reports and supporting victims of gender-based violence. The agreement comes with a global drop in crime exceeding 16% in the city.

The Urban Guard of Barcelona and the Mossos d'Esquadra have entered into a new collaboration agreement that redefines the division of tasks between the two bodies. The text, which will be implemented through operational protocols, aims to adapt police coordination to the increasing complexity of crime and new social demands in the city.

One of the most visible changes affects the processing of reports. The Urban Guard will take a more active role in receiving reports for certain criminal acts, which can be submitted at the citizen attention offices of the body. Additionally, information exchange between both bodies will be facilitated to expedite investigations.

In the area of victim support, the agreement expands the powers of the Victim Support Service (SAV) of the Urban Guard, especially in cases of gender-based violence and domestic violence. This service will be able to participate in monitoring victims and, when determined, assume police protection measures. These services will be integrated into regional specialized investigation units to strengthen coordination with the Mossos d'Esquadra.

The agreement also regulates the exchange of information and mutual access to police systems and databases, with legal and data protection guarantees. It incorporates the shared use of technologies and surveillance systems, allowing the Mossos d'Esquadra to access the municipal system in situations of public safety, emergencies, or investigations.

The update of the agreement consolidates existing coordination bodies, such as the Local Security Board, the Urban Security Council, and the district prevention councils.

Police data from the summer confirms an improvement in security in Barcelona. Known criminal acts have fallen by more than 16% compared to the same period last year. The decline is concentrated in property crimes, with a 23.9% reduction in thefts and an 18.9% decrease in incidents linked to repeat offenders. In public transport, crime dropped by 40.7% thanks to preventive and operational reinforcement from police bodies.

However, some crimes have increased. Burglary in establishments rose by 21%, from 248 cases in 2025 to 300 in 2026. Burglary in vehicles increased by 0.6%. Those arrested for burglary in establishments also rose by 28.6%, reflecting a more intense police response.

Regarding knives, incidents fell by 20% and 1,722 weapons were seized, 6% less than the previous year. Between January and August 2026, there were 15 completed homicides in Barcelona, of which 12 have already been solved by the Mossos. Five of these cases are related to firearms and are framed within organized crime conflicts.

Sexual assaults remain at the same figure as the previous year, with a resolution rate of 85.9%, identical to that of 2025.

The new agreement will be developed through operational protocols that will specify procedures in the coming weeks. Residents of Barcelona will be able to submit certain reports at the citizen attention offices of the Urban Guard, which will expand their processing capacity.