Guàrdia Urbana expands video surveillance in El Born, the Carmel bunkers and the Olympic Ring
Nearly 100 new cameras will be installed at five busy locations before the end of the year: nine on Passeig del Born, 11 at the Carmel bunkers, 30 at the Olympic Ring, 19 in Parc de la Pegaso and another 30 across the Fira de Bellcaire and Fort Pienc. The newly authorised cameras form part of phases 2 and 3 of the Video Surveillance Plan, which will see 500 new cameras installed across all city districts by 2027.
Barcelona City Council has also received a favourable assessment from the Catalan Video Surveillance Device Control Commission for the installation of cameras in Parc de la Guineueta, Plaça d’Àngel Pestaña, Plaça Roja and Plaça de la Universitat. These locations are awaiting final authorisation from the Directorate-General for Security Administration, with installation expected before 2027.
These measures build on phase 1 of the plan, with 26 cameras now operational in Plaça de Catalunya and along the seafront. Work is also under way to install six cameras on Avinguda de la Catedral and a further 20 in Plaça Reial and 21 on Rambla del Raval, where construction work will begin in September. Barcelona currently has 186 operational video surveillance cameras.
The Video Surveillance Plan will add 500 new cameras across 34 locations by 2027, bringing the citywide total to 660 across all districts. Locations are selected according to objective criteria, including crime rate, vulnerability and serious public-order issues identified by the police. The cameras serve a preventive and deterrent function while also assisting investigations and providing a source of evidence.
Installation requires authorisation from the Government of Catalonia and must adhere to the principles of necessity, proportionality and minimal intrusion into privacy. The system does not use facial recognition or AI-based identification. Once all four phases are complete, video surveillance will cover around 5.16% of the city’s public space.
The roll-out forms part of the City Council’s comprehensive security strategy, which brings together increased police numbers, the Guàrdia Urbana Visibility Plan, the Public Prosecutor’s Office Liaison Unit, the Druida plan to combat drug trafficking in public spaces and the new by-law on positive community life.
