The number of home squatting cases in Spain is on the rise. In 2024, there were 16,426 occurrences of breaking and entering and usurping of properties nationwide, which is over 1,200 more than the previous year, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior.

It should be mentioned that these statistics only include cases that have been reported to the State Security Forces and Corps. They show that there are, on average, 45 unlawful squattings across Spain every day, with Catalonia—and particularly Barcelona—at the top of the list. In actuality, this represents 42% of all instances, whilst the Valencian Community, the third autonomous region with the greatest prevalence, does not surpass 11% of all cases.

According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, Alicante is likewise highly ranked. The province of Alicante ranks sixth in terms of the number of usurpation and breaking and entering reports, while being far from Barcelona’s 5,077 squats.

This means that in 2024, there were 687 home squattings in the province of Alicante, which is greater than in places like the Balearic Islands, Malaga, Las Palmas, Seville, or Murcia. Although last year’s number is lower than that of 2022, when the historical series’ maximum was attained, the province has reported 68 more cases than in 2023.

The growth data is exponential if we consider how this phenomenon has changed over the past ten years. Squatter populations have increased by 245% since 2014, with an average of 1.88 squatters per day in the province—far less than the average of 14 squatters per day in Barcelona.

In 2024, 246 persons were detained or looked into for crimes linked to breaking and entering and usurping property, 253 people were victims, and 495 cases of these crimes were resolved, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior.

As for national data, for the first time the barrier of 11,000 people investigated or arrested for ‘squatting’ in Spain was surpassed, an increase of 17.7% compared to 2023, according to data compiled by Idealista. It is striking that in the case of Barcelona there are more people arrested and investigated than cases of ‘squatting’, with 5,686.

Verbal proceedings for illegal occupation of homes are also increasing. According to data from the General Council of the Judiciary, the Valencian Community recorded 18.7% of all such cases in Spain between January and September, making it the second autonomous region with the highest number.

In an effort to capitalise on the potential of these unmanned aircraft to improve city security and emergency response, the Alcoy City Council is advancing the establishment of a dedicated Local Police unit in drones. In order to achieve this, the Security Department already has a functioning drone and a number of personnel are undergoing the necessary training.

In accordance with this plan, a municipal delegation comprising the Alcoy Local Police superintendent Carlos Martín, the councillor for Police, Emergencies, and Civil Protection Raül Llopis, the agent Pablo Aura, the Department of Emergencies and Civil Protection technician Quique Blanes, and the Department of Innovation representative Pedro J. Ramiro attended a conference yesterday in Benidorm that addressed the use of drones and artificial intelligence. The event showcased the possibilities of these technologies in urban settings by executing the first simultaneous flight of an air taxi and multiple unmanned aircraft in Europe. The purpose of the gathering was to network with other local governments and organisations that focus on creating cutting-edge drone solutions.

The significance of this endeavour to modernise municipal services was emphasised by Councillor Raül Llopis. “We are developing a cutting-edge city concept in which technology enhances emergency response and security. Another step in this regard is the establishment of this drone unit within the Local Police, which will enable us to respond to urgent circumstances more swiftly and efficiently,” he stated.

This project is being developed in collaboration with the University of Alicante, the Polytechnic University of Valencia, and the Department of Emergencies and Innovation. Alcoi is taking part in a comprehensive study on the use of unmanned aircraft to deliver emergency and hospital services in complicated orographic contexts, like the city and its hospital region, as part of this framework. This project aims to assess the operational feasibility of drones in emergency response and healthcare, with a seventy percent subsidy from the Valencian Agency for Innovation-IVACE+I.

The project’s goal is to assess the use of drones for remote patient communication in emergency scenarios, the location of missing persons, the immediate transfer of defibrillators in cases of cardiac arrest, and the delivery of medical equipment in remote places with limited access. Additionally, its use in search and rescue, natural environment surveillance, and forest fire control are taken into consideration in the sphere of civil protection.

Llopis has emphasised how this initiative can improve Alcoy’s emergency response and medical services. “We are confronted with a life-saving technical advancement. The ability to rely on drones to deliver medical supplies or help locate individuals in danger will greatly enhance emergency response. To ensure the highest level of rigour in the construction of this system, we also work with universities and other expert entities,” he said.

This project’s development is a component of the Alcoi Urban Sandbox, an innovation area where various drone and AI-based solutions will be evaluated. With a projected completion date of the second half of 2026, the project is presently at the draughting stage.

This coming week, a Civil Guard agent from Santa Pola is being judged by a court in Alicante on charges that he gave a man, who is also facing charges, private information concerning arrests and investigations.

The Prosecutor’s Office is asking a preliminary sentence of three years in jail for the call sign of the armed institute, based on information provided by the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJCV).

For allegedly violating secrets, the public prosecutor is also requesting a two-year suspension from the agent’s job or public office.

It should be noted in this regard that the defendant had access to information about ongoing investigations and gave pertinent information about arrests to another man who was also charged in this case and for whom the prosecutor’s office is asking for the same sentence as the first defendant.