The majority of groups in Barcelona City Council are committed to reforming the Penal Code to punish criminals more severely, especially those who commit thefts and robberies with violence and intimidation. They expressed it today during the first session of the study commission on multiple recidivism. All groups except the common ones, who have not expressed themselves clearly, agree that the latest penal reform on the matter has been a “botched” and a “failure.” For this reason, they will press to reform the law again. The Deputy Mayor for Security, Albert Batlle, has admitted that they have felt “alone” defending the changes in Madrid.
The commission has been established at the request of the Trias per Barcelona group. Over the next few months and in five sessions they will study reforms before issuing conclusions before the summer holidays. The commission is chaired by the spokesperson for the Trias per Barcelona group, Jordi Martí Galbis. The second session will not be until May 16, once the elections in the Parliament have been held. The electoral call is reducing municipal activity to a minimum.
In a context of crime growth, the Mossos d’Esquada and the Urban Police have identified 526 repeat offenders, 487 active during 2023, who accumulated 6,169 robberies or thefts.
The president of the commission proposed punishing phone thefts with prison, making recidivism aggravating and increasing the number of courts to deal with multiple recidivism, proposals that broadly coincide with those made public a few weeks ago by the College of Law. ‘Advocacy of Barcelona.
Perhaps the discordant note has been given by the BComú councilor, Marc Serra, who has insisted on the need to prioritize the search for solutions to the causes of the problem over the toughening of laws and punishments.
Jordi Coronas (ERC) agrees that the reform of the Penal Code will not solve, at least by itself, the problem of multiple recidivism but has admitted that the reform of the Penal Code of 2022 to address this phenomenon has been a failure. He has agreed, however, with the Security Councilor that the lack of justice aggravates the situation.
Juan Milián (PP) has stated that Barcelona exerts a call effect to multi-recidivist thieves and the president of the Voz group, Gonzalo de Oro has criticized the “do-gooder” discourse of the left and has linked crime to immigration.
