Operation Summer 2010
The Summer 2010 operation will be paying special attention to theft suffered by holiday-makers
20.08.10 - 17:19 -
A special police operation aims to prevent minor theft in tourist areas. SUR
In two weeks’ time foreign tourists should have fewer problems reporting a crime to the Spanish police in the province of Malaga. The middle of July sees the launch of the National Police’s new Servicio de Atención al Turista Extranjero (SATE) which will offer personalised assistance with reporting crimes as well as providing psychological attention where necessary and helping with the cancellation of credit cards.
The SATE will be coordinated from the main headquarters of the Costa del Sol Tourist Board in the centre of Malaga, although each National Police Station will have specialised staff to attend to foreign visitors who fall victim to crime while on the Costa del Sol. While the service is aimed more specifically at foreign tourists, as they are unfamiliar with police procedures in Spain and probably don’t speak the language, visitors from other parts of Spain will also benefit from the service. Leaflets with useful advice have been printed in several different languages.
The new service was announced on_Wednesday at the presentation of ‘Operation Summer 2010’, a package of special security measures affecting the Police and the Guardia Civil during the summer months. The plan includes reinforcing the National Police staff in the province with 175 extra officers, some of whom will cover absences due to holidays, explained the Government representation in the province of Malaga, Hilario López Luna.
The Guardia Civil will also benefit from an extra 47 officers during the summer months. At Wednesday’s meeting, Lieutenant Colonel Fermín Sánchez of the Guardia Civil pointed out that, despite everything, the Costa del Sol is a safe place. He was supported by the Chairman of the Costa del Sol Tourist Board, Salvador Pendón, who stressed that security was one of the province of Malaga’s “strengths”. Pendón called for greater “coordination” between the security forces, the tourism industry and the general public.
To this end the National Police and the Guardia Civil have met with tourism professionals and representatives of the Malaga Consular Corps to offer advice and call for cooperation. The chief commissioner of the UCOP (Operative Coordination Unit), Francisco Arrebola, called for hoteliers to keep an eye on tourists’ luggage, have well placed security cameras and identify everyone who passes though their reception area.
In fact this summer the security forces will be paying special attention to petty theft, the offence that most affects tourists and makes up for 36 per cent of all crime committed in the area. To do this they have come up with what they have christened the ‘Día del Hurto’ or ‘Theft Day’. One day, known only to the police, in each town in the province will be designated for a special anti-theft operation in collaboration with the Local Police force in the area. On that day there will be a silent deployment of National Police officers keeping a special eye out for pickpockets and bag snatchers.
The authorities hope that the operation will act as a deterrent. Arrebola highlighted that petty thieves are working in groups that are becoming more and more organised and are preying on tourist on the Costa del Sol. “While the majority are not violent, they can leave people who come here on holiday with nothing”, he added.
