Barcelona boosts surveillance to curb street crime
Barcelona, a city to eagerly fly for city breaks, has been battling pickpockets and petty crime for years. The city is seeking ways to address this issue, and now, one solution is being implemented.
28 October 2024 10:17
The Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia reported that Barcelona plans to install more cameras on its streets to curb crime.
Cameras in Barcelona as a way to fight criminals
Currently, the capital of Catalonia operates only 160 surveillance cameras, which is a small number compared to other European cities of similar size. For comparison, the French city of Nice has approximately three thousand cameras deployed across its streets.
The new devices are primarily intended for dark, narrow streets where crimes commonly occur. Plans are also underway to increase the number of cameras in the city centre, where large crowds, mainly tourists, gather throughout the year, not just during the holiday season.
Although the exact number of additional cameras has not yet been determined, city authorities emphasize enhancing public safety by rapidly expanding the monitoring system.
The first device monitoring public space was installed in Barcelona in 2001 at George Orwell Square, sparking a debate about privacy protection at the time.
Dangerous in the touristic city
We have repeatedly reported on dangerous incidents occurring on the streets of Barcelona. Petty thefts happen almost daily, and unfortunately, there are also more serious incidents.
An aggressive man was recorded in the act just under three weeks ago, and the video appeared online. He approached a pair of tourists with a small child in a stroller and began yelling aggressively at the parents, then struck the one-year-old girl in the face with great force before her father could react.
The recorded situation wasn't the only act of aggression by this man. Another victim was a 60-year-old man, who was attacked without reason. He suffered numerous facial injuries and was badly bruised.
