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Spain deploys 65,000 police to enforce Easter travel restrictions

A police control point during the state of alarm. File photograph.
A police control point during the state of alarm. File photograph. / EUROPA PRESS

  • The Interior Minister says there will be controls at the borders of the different autonomous regions as well at the boundaries between provinces where provincial perimeter restrictions have been established, such as in Andalucía

  • MELCHOR SÁIZ-PARDO / ÁLVARO SOTO

The Spanish government will mobilise almost 65,000 officers to police the autonomous region border controls to try and stem the spread of the coronavirus at Easter.

"The limitations and restrictions are to protect public health and save lives," said Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

“Last week we carried out 162,000 controls that led to 9,500 proposals for fines. This Easter 64,200 officers will be deployed to ensure compliance with the regulations," he promised.

Grande-Marlaska added, "This deployment means we will have all the forces necessary to ensure compliance with the regulations" and there will be "controls at the borders of the different autonomous regions" as well as control points at "the boundaries between provinces where provincial perimeter restrictions have been established," such as in Andalucía.

“We remain in an exceptional situation. We must stay at home and reduce mobility to the maximum. It is not yet possible to plan long-distance trips," insisted the head of the ministry, who pointed out that these restrictions, in reality, are to avoid having to "take tougher measures in the future to combat the fourth wave of infections".

Officials have revealed that in recent days there have been coordination meetings between the National Police, Guardia Civil, regional police forces such as Mossos and Ertzaintza, as well as Local Police to implement random controls, especially at the exits of the main cities, starting this Friday.

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