CSIF finds the ten extra officers that the City Council of Barcelona plans for the general strike on November 11 insufficient. It requests at least six or seven complete riot vans.
The City Council of Barcelona will reinforce the Reinforcement, Emergencies and Proximity Unit (UREP), the riot police of the Guardia Urbana, for the general strike day on November 11. The measure aims to prevent disturbances similar to those recently recorded in Paris, France, and Milano, Italy.
The City Council has planned ten reinforcement officers for the UREP. The union CSIF believes that this number is insufficient and has sent a letter to the Councillor for Security and Prevention, Albert Batlle, requesting that the extraordinary deployment includes at least six or seven riot vans with their full equipment.
“This measure is insufficient to face a day that may require a higher response capacity than usual.”
According to the union, the risk of “disturbances and situations of special tension” occurring on the day of the strike is high. Therefore, it also demands more officers in the district police stations, so they are not left unprotected during the operation. The request is supported by the Law 31/1995 on the Prevention of Occupational Risks, which mandates the protection of officers, and calls for that protection to be a priority in police planning.
CSIF also cites episodes of serious public order disturbances that Barcelona has experienced, although it does not specify which events it refers to. For the union, these precedents require advance planning to prevent a lack of foresight from putting officers and citizens at risk.
The union argues that the increase in personnel and equipment also aims to protect businesses and public and private property from vandalism, without preventing those who wish to demonstrate from doing so peacefully. CSIF insists that “prevention must be done beforehand” to avoid injuries to officers or damage to businesses.
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