A popular region of Spain’s Balearic island Ibiza has recently seen its local patrol beefed up by foreign members of the police in a bid to keep the area safe during the busy summer months.
Carmen Ferrer, the mayor of the Santa Eularia municipality in eastern Ibiza, recently welcomed two officers from the Italian Carabinieri police force and one from the German Polizei in the local patrols.
The three foreign officers have joined the mixed patrols being carried out by the Villa del Río Local Police and the Guardia Civil to keep at bay crime and rowdy tourists.
A press release from the local town hall read: “While the Italian Carabinieri have been patrolling the municipality since the July 1 and will remain on the island until August 26, the German policeman started [on August 1] and will be on duty until September 30.”
The presence of foreign police officers during patrols will help resolve incidents involving tourists from outside of Spain.
During the meeting with the mayor, the police officers were thanked for their decision to temporarily join the local force.
She also expressed her interest in the work they carry out in their respective corps.
The addition to the local police force of foreign officers is part of the Spanish Interior Ministry’s Safe Summer project.
Officially begun on July 1, this operation has seen over the past years an increase in the number of police officers patrolling the streets during the summer months to grant effective safety to all citizens and tourists.
The project will end on August 31 in most parts of Spain, but will be extended to September 30 in the Balearic Islands, much loved by tourists.
Upon launching the operation, Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said: “At the Ministry, we know that one of the factors that gives the most added value to our tourism sector is the work carried out by the National Police and Civil Guard to provide tourists, wherever they come from, a safe and protected space in which being able to enjoy all the activities linked to their vacation.”
The months between July and September are particularly busy for international arrivals in Ibiza, which enjoys good weather most months of the year.
In 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, more than 457,000 passengers from outside of Spain landed on the Balearic island in July alone.
A similar number of arrival was recorded the following month, while in September 2019 there were more than 380,000 international arrivals, Statista shared.
