The Lloret de Mar Local Police station temporarily closed from Saturday night to Sunday due to an alarming lack of officers. This closure, described as an unprecedented event in the municipality, occurred after recording 38 simultaneous absences due to sick leave and illness. The situation is particularly critical given that the municipality, with a usual population of 50,000 inhabitants, can see its numbers quadruple during the tourist season.
Labour Conflict and Criticism of Municipal Management
Although the station reopened the following day, Mayor Adrià Lamelas acknowledged the “seriousness” of the incident. Opposition parties have harshly criticized the municipal government, accusing it of allowing the labour conflict with the officers to deteriorate to this extent. According to Jordi Martínez, a councillor from the Junts party, “closing a police station due to lack of staff is a clear sign that the conflict has reached an unacceptable limit.”
The temporary closure forced the Town Hall to request reinforcements from the regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, to ensure safety on the streets that night. Additionally, private security was hired to guard the police facilities due to the presence of weapons and ammunition inside.
The Town Council has been in constant talks with the Minister of Interior to address this extraordinary situation. The local government claims to be working tirelessly to resolve a conflict that has been unresolved for months. However, opposition groups such as Tots per Lloret and ERC have pointed out that warnings about the deteriorating work environment were ignored for weeks.
“The situation is the result of months without progress in negotiations,” stated Albert Robert, a councillor for Tots per Lloret.
As the official start of the tourist season approaches, the issues within the police force are a major concern for both residents and potential visitors. The chronic lack of personnel has led many officers to refuse overtime due to the labour tensions generated by a contract that has been expired for over ten years.
Lamelas defended his position by stating that they are open to dialogue with the unions but must also respect the legal limitations imposed by current regulations. He assured that any additional demands made by the workers could violate these laws according to municipal technical reports.
Despite the gradual increase in their pay since their reclassification in 2017, many members of the force feel that their working conditions do not adequately reflect their work and commitment. “We are not asking for the impossible; we simply want fair conditions,” declared a union representative on condition of anonymity.
With 20 incidents reported in just one day due to absences among local officers, it is clear that this crisis affects not only those working within the police force but also the entire community. The uncertainty about how future similar situations will be handled raises serious questions about the immediate future and how this will affect tourism and overall well-being in Lloret.
“We are committed to finding a viable solution,” concluded Lamelas while emphasizing his desire to keep all possible avenues open to resolve this labour conflict.
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