Insecurity continues to be by far the main concern of Barcelona residents. It is unprecedented to see how habitual criminals are arrested time and again, giving the impression that they act with total impunity.
The first reaction to insecurity is to ask for more police and tougher legislation. In recent years, the Mossos d’Esquadra and Guàrdia Urbana staff has increased considerably. And this increase in troops is paying off. In recent months, arrests have grown by around 30%, but this success has not translated into a significant decrease in crimes.
We might think that we have a lax Penal Code compared to that of other safer European countries. Although it would be advisable to refine the penalties for some types of crime, in general our Penal Code is more punitive than that of neighboring countries.
Our immigration legislation deserves special mention, a no small aspect given that 72% of theft and robbery crimes in the province of Barcelona were carried out by non-EU foreigners.
But our legislation does not display its full effectiveness due to the impossibility of meeting deadlines due to the overwhelming lack of material and human resources. All of this despite the efforts of judges, prosecutors and administrative staff to apply it in the best possible way. And the increase in arrests only aggravates the problem.
The Criminal Procedure Law provides that flagrant crimes of theft are prosecuted immediately, or if this is not possible, within a period of seven days. Today in Barcelona, ??in the only two authorized duty courts, hearings are being scheduled for next summer.
The same law provides that flagrant crimes of theft are prosecuted within fifteen days. In many courts today criminals are being summoned for March 2025! With these deadlines, it is understandable that judges do not decree preventive detention, leaving the accused free with charges.
The law already provides for tougher penalties in the case of repeat offenders. But to apply it, it is necessary that these previous crimes have a final sentence, sentences that take too long to arrive. The law provides for aggravating circumstances for multiple recidivism, not for multiple detentions.
In a situation in which professional criminals move easily between different countries, this inefficiency makes it in practice more economically and criminally profitable to commit crimes in our country.
A court costs approximately the same per year as 25 police officers. If public money were invested in the most effective way possible to achieve the objectives, it is clear that it would be more profitable to dedicate it to increasing the judicial staff than to hiring more agents, who are always welcome.
The Department of Justice is the one who must provide resources for the administration of justice in Catalonia. It is then up to the ministry to appoint judges and prosecutors. It is necessary that both focus on solving the real problems of citizens. Improved security cannot wait.