No vigente.
Mojácar Council, with the local Partido Socialista and Somos Mojácar parties recently held an informative talk in the town’s Centro de Usos Múltiples with the aim of giving local residents guidance on the steps to be taken when faced with a robbery or assault.
Present at the meeting were Mojácar’s Security Councillor, Emmanuel Agüero and the Somos Mojácar Councillor, Jessica Simpson, who were joined by the Guardia Civil Lieutenant from Garrucha and Mojácar’s Local Police Chief who, as representatives from state security forces, had been invited to advise attendees.
The meeting was principally planned for the non Spanish residents, who can often be the main targets for criminals due to age and their lack of language skills which makes them less inclined to report the facts. However, residents of all nationalities were invited to attend as the meeting was held in Spanish and English.
Although there has been numerous alarming reports on social media, according to the Civil Guard Officer there has not been a significant rise in reported robberies or thefts over the last year, although recently arrests have been made for the type of street crime that is particular concern currently.
On this particular issue, the Police representatives were specifically asked about the actions that can be taken if you are the victim of a robbery (even if only attempted) and, to what extent a member of the public can legally defend themselves.
Both security forces agreed on the advice that rather than making a defence, it is better to call out to draw attention that there is a criminal act occurring, ring 112, try to keep as calm as you can under the circumstances and try to note as many details as possible so that you can give the maximum identification of the robbers. It is absolutely essential to make a police report, however, as this is the only way that the police can be made aware of the these acts and take action.
At the end of the session, all present received a whistles, an idea which came from an English town, where a local policeman, concerned about an increase in robberies, distributed whistles to everyone. This simple idea reaped rewards, resulting in a decline of burglaries.
Both the Local Police and Civil Guard concluded by reassuring all residents in the town that they are working with all their means to combat these incidents, as shown by the recent arrests, although they should continue to be vigilant and take every personal security measure possible.
