The City Police have been running a full operation since 15 February combining uniformed and plain-clothes patrols to intervene at points with the highest number of recurrent incidents. The operation contemplates coordination with other municipal services and is checked periodically according to the evolution of incidents and denouncements.

By types of fine, the main change comes in the field of alcohol consumption, where denouncements dropped from 18,015 to 6,830 (a drop of 62.1%). The reduction is conditioned by the disappearance of two scenarios that existed up to February and that have now been replaced with new infringements linked to the effective altercation of public coexistence.

Increase in action in public space

One of the areas where the police are cracking down most is people taking care of their physiological needs in the street. Denouncements are up by 15.2%, rising from 2,722 to 3,136. The revamp adds new aggravated scenarios that allow fines to be imposed for conduct which is particularly problematic for public coexistence.

Denouncements for other conduct such as making spaces dirty are up by 310%, rising from 414 to 1,698. In parallel, denouncements for the improper use of public space are up considerably, from 43 to 481 cases. The figures demonstrate the municipal strategy of strengthening action on behaviour that directly affects the perception of cleanliness, order and quality of public space.

Denouncements for unauthorised street vending are up by 13%, rising from 4,016 to 4,538. In parallel, the City Police have recorded 13,416 cases of dumping goods earmarked for hawking, a very similar volume to the previous year.

Over 11,000 fines given

During this period, the Office for Coexistence has imposed 11,557 fines and recorded 4,740 fines paid with discounts for prompt payment etc. A significant number of cases are still in the administrative stage and come from denouncements prior to the period analysed.

The new by-law has strengthened the dissuasive power of fines with higher amounts for conduct that has a greater impact on coexistence. On top of this, the reduction in discounts for voluntary and immediate payment is lower, dropping from 75% to 50% to increase its effectiveness and the responsibility of those committing the infringement.

In parallel to fines, the City Council continues to back educational and reparational means contemplated by the regulation. Cases handled by the Office for Coexistence with alternative measures to fines are up by 169.8%, rising from 96 to 259.

The implementation of the new by-law has been accompanied by an extensive training programme directed at municipal staff, City Police chiefs, civic officers and Mossos d’Esquadra chiefs. In all, over 260 professionals have taken part in specific sessions to guarantee the homogeneous application of the new regulatory framework across the city.