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Torrevieja Mayor forces the retirement of the local police commissioner

On Friday, Vicente Gutiérrez Sola, the Chief Commissioner of the Torrevieja Local Police, retrieved his possessions from the police station office and departed. He adhered to a ruling that was legally draughted by the Director General of Personnel, Rosana Narejos, resolved by the Councillor for Personnel, María José Ruiz, proposed by the Director General of the Police, Alejandro Morer, and signed by the Councillor Delegate for Police, Federico Alarcón. The resolution stated that he was 65 years old and that the law does not permit security force officers to serve beyond that age.

Superintendent Óscar Cartón has provisionally assumed the role of Local Police Chief. The City Council’s anticipation of an appeal from the affected party and its reluctance to make a definitive decision until it has legal certainty to do so is indicated by the fact that this is a provisional appointment, despite its intention to be permanent.

Yesterday, Gutiérrez Sola, who has a wealth of experience as a local police commander in the province, refrained from commenting on this agreement. He only observed that he was required to examine both the report prepared by the Department of Personnel and the one proposed by the Director General of Police.

Sources say that the former commissioner had sought to extend his duties for a few months beyond April 11th in 2024 in order to fulfil his 38-year and three-month contribution period and receive full pension benefits. This request was made in an internal communication.

The resolution was proposed by Morer, who was one of the two superintendents of the Local Police and second in command of the force until January 31st. He occupied a position below him on the organisational chart. As the director general, he now occupies a position that surpasses that of the former commissioner, serving as a conduit between the political and professional leadership of the Local Police. Gutiérrez, in reality, filed an appeal against Morer’s appointment as a senior official.

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Compulsory retirements in Orihuela and Alicante


This change in the Torrevieja local police command structure is in line with comparable developments in larger cities, including Alicante and Orihuela, which are also under the control of the Popular Party. Recently, both Luis Barcala and Pepe Vegara, both from Orihuela, have adopted comparable resolutions and have provided administrative notice to those affected several months in advance. However, the latter will remain in office until after the summer, when they reach retirement age.

Nevertheless, the decree in Torrevieja has only provided Gutiérrez with four days to respond before his 65th birthday, which was on Friday, April 11th.

In 2010, the former chief of the Local Police assumed responsibility for the Torrevieja Local Police, which was then under the supervision of the Popular Party mayor, Pedro Hernández Mateo, and the general director of the area, Javier Mínguez. At that time, the arrivals of Mínguez and Gutiérrez were intended to achieve two objectives: first, to normalise the intricate internal situation within the Torrevieja local police force, which had been impacted by a plethora of workplace harassment cases and legal complaints against commanders for alleged irregularities in the performance of their duties; and second, to re-establish coordination with the civil guard, which had been tarnished by these cases for years. Gutiérrez succeeded in enhancing his relationship with the Guardia Civil, but his efforts did not have a significant impact on the internal dynamics of the force.


The governing team of the Popular Party and the police councillor, who appeared on Friday to provide a detailed account of the governing board’s agreements, have not disclosed any public information regarding the resolution that will retire the current Commissioner Gutiérrez Sola. This is a common occurrence in municipal administrations that are characterised by conflict. Unofficially, this follows the recent retirements of two high-ranking officials, in which Eduardo Dolón’s government denied the extension of their terms.

A general administration technician and a secretary general of the plenary session, both of whom had served for decades at Torrevieja City Council, expressly requested a delay in their retirement age. However, civil service legislation denied their request. The legality of certain resolutions adopted by Mayor Dolón was questioned or warned about by these two officials, whose reports were substantiated by legislation.

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At present, the Torrevieja Local Police has 140 officers. In July, an additional 40 officers will be added, bringing the total number of officers to 180. This figure is in line with the anticipated number of officers in a city with a population exceeding 100,000.


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Costa Blanca

Torrevieja unveils the charity race “5K Steps That Matter by Quirónsalud” in aid of AFECÁNCER

Quirónsalud Torrevieja Hospital today presented the charity race “5K Steps That Matter” at Torrevieja Town Hall, as part of the hospital’s 25th anniversary celebrations. All proceeds from the event will be donated in full to AFECÁNCER, a local association supporting cancer patients and their families.

The race will take place on Sunday 25th May at 9:00 am in the Parque de las Naciones in Torrevieja. The event offers various categories suitable for all ages and fitness levels, including a 5K run, Nordic walking, children’s races, and a range of family-friendly activities.

This community event is held in collaboration with the Torrevieja Town Council, through its departments of Sports and Health, as well as the Torrevieja Athletics Club and the Brotons Group.

The event’s race packs will be prepared with the support of ADIEM Torrevieja, an organisation that promotes the social and professional inclusion of individuals with mental health conditions. Their participation adds further depth to the event’s inclusive and charitable nature, highlighting the power of community and cooperation for a common cause.

Click here to get your race number

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A family-friendly sporting event

Beyond the athletic competition, the day promises to be a true celebration of solidarity, with a full schedule of complementary activities:

  • Zumba session with Javi Jodani, a well-known local instructor, bringing energy and movement to the morning.
  • Live music by Instinto Primate, performing from the heart of the park to create a festive atmosphere.
  • Children’s workshops and activities throughout the morning, providing a safe and engaging environment for the youngest attendees.
  • Café area with seating, offering refreshments and a space to relax.
  • “Dorsal 0” (virtual race bib) available via the registration page for those unable to attend in person but who wish to support the cause.

Race and event Schedule

  • 09:00 – Collection of adult race numbers: Participants should collect their bibs at the designated area. Early arrival is advised to avoid queues.
  • 10:00 – Start of the 5K race: The main event begins, with a 5-kilometre route monitored by the Torrevieja Athletics Club to ensure runners’ safety.
  • 11:00 – Nordic walking event begins: A walking alternative open to all, promoting inclusive participation.
  • 11:00 to 12:00 – Live performance by Instinto Primate: Enjoy music in the park during the festivities.
  • 11:15 – Prize-giving ceremony for the 5K race winners.
  • 11:30 – Collection of children’s race numbers: Children participating in the races should collect their bibs from the designated area.
  • 12:00 – Children’s races begin (within the park):
    • SUB4 (Mixed, up to age 3) – 50m
    • SUB6 (Mixed, ages 4–5) – 50m
    • SUB8 (Boys & Girls, ages 6–7) – 100m
    • SUB10 (Boys & Girls, ages 8–9) – 600m
    • SUB12 (Boys & Girls, ages 10–11) – 600m
    • SUB14 (Boys & Girls, ages 12–13) – 1,200m
      Races are adapted by age to encourage children’s participation, held in a secure, supervised area of the park.
  • 12:30 – Prize-giving ceremony for children’s races.
  • 10:30 to 12:30 – Children’s activities: Fun and educational workshops and games for young attendees.
  • 12:30 to 13:00 – Final Zumba session: A fun and energetic way to end the day, open to all participants.

A day to remember as part of Quirónsalud Torrevieja’s 25th anniversary

This charity race forms part of the activities commemorating the 25th anniversary of Quirónsalud Torrevieja Hospital – a milestone that celebrates the hospital’s strong ties with the local community and its ongoing commitment to health, solidarity, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Throughout the year, the hospital will be organising a series of initiatives including exhibitions, podcasts, commemorative mosaics, and a grand closing event in October.


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Costa Blanca

Three arrested in Benidorm for stealing wallets and using the cards where one of them worked

National Police Alicante Arrest

Three individuals were apprehended by National Police officers in Benidorm (Alicante) on suspicion of being the leaders of a criminal organisation that specialises in pickpocketing. It is believed that the group stole credit cards from the establishment’s POS payment terminals, where one of the individuals worked.

    The National Police said the arrest was made at the same place the cards were used, 20 minutes after the wallet was stolen.

    The CIMACC Chamber of the 091 made the arrests after a foreign tourist called to report that a man, whose wallet he had stolen, fled on a high-powered vehicle driven by another person.

    The nearby area was the subject of a coordinated deployment by city service patrols.  The victim was receiving notifications on his mobile phone regarding charges made to his cards, so the remaining crews were deployed through the streets of the leisure and restaurant area of the old city while one of the crews interrogated her.  A maximum of nine payment transactions were executed.

    The deployed agents found a vehicle in front of an establishment that matched the victim’s description. The vehicle’s name corresponded to one of the most recent charges mentioned by the injured party.

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    Consequently, the authorities secured the premises’ exits to avert the possibility of an escape.  They observed that three men were conversing inside, and two of them attempted to exit without being observed by the agents when they entered.  One of the suspects was carrying a product that was purchased on the spot, as well as dollar banknotes, reais (Brazilian currency), and pounds in their pockets.

    In the interim, one of the officers observed as a third individual, who was later identified as the establishment’s manager, exited the counter and proceeded to a corner. There, he threw four fragments of what appeared to be a credit card to the ground.

    As a result, the authorities were able to retrieve these fragments and determine that they were one of the victim’s cards.  Additionally, they found a health certificate in his pocket that did not belong to him.   In the end, they found three payment terminals on the counter, adjacent to which were several purchase statements that corresponded to the charges made to the victim’s card that were also discovered. Additionally, a box contained 2,610 euros in cash, although the invoicing for that day was only 3 euros.

    For these reasons, the agents apprehended these three individuals, who are alleged to have committed the offences of theft, fraud, money laundering of capital, and criminal organisation.  The city’s investigating court has placed the suspects under detention following the police proceedings.

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Costa Blanca

Brit dies in Benidorm after collapsing during his stag do

National Police Van

During his stag party in Benidorm with his father and friends, a 29-year-old British man died after abruptly collapsing at a bar. The young man fell to the ground resulted in a severe gash on his skull. The bar proprietor and another customer initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to maintain the man’s stability from the outset. The owner stated that they were able to sustain the young man’s vital signs for the first minute; however, he ceased to respond thereafter.

Nevertheless, they continued the manoeuvre for approximately 15 minutes until the ambulance arrived. Despite the emergency team’s efforts, they were unable to revive the young man. The victim’s father disclosed that his son experienced a cardiac arrest in England five years ago, at the age of 24. The Halifax-based individual, who is the father of a son, was in Benidorm for his bachelor party in anticipation of his upcoming wedding in May.

According to National Police sources, the cause of death is still unknown; however, they have confirmed that the individual died immediately due to a medical issue.


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Events Calendar

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Alicante Car Show 4th - 6th April
April 4, 2025 - April 6, 2025    
10:00 - 21:00
This weekend, Alicante will host the biggest car show in the province. The 21st edition of Sobre 2 ruedas and the 53rd edition of Firauto, [...]
Exhibition of Static and Radio-Controlled Naval Modeling in Torrevieja
April 6, 2025 - April 26, 2025    
10:30 - 19:30
An exhibition of static and radio-controlled naval modelling will be in the 'Los Aljibes' exhibition hall at the Park of Nations in Torrevieja and will [...]
Lenny Kravitz in Concert in A Coruña
April 10, 2025    
21:30 - 23:00
Lenny Kravitz will be preforming live at the Coliseum, C. Francisco Pérez Carballo, 2, 15008 A Coruña on Thursday 10th April this year. Leonard Albert [...]
Torrevieja Book Fair
April 12, 2025 - April 21, 2025    
All Day
The 27th edition of the Torrevieja Book Fair, which will take place on Paseo Vista Alegre from Saturday, April 12th to Monday, April 21st. For [...]
Survivor: The Extreme Test in Alicante 12th & 13th April
April 12, 2025 - April 13, 2025    
All Day
The Survivor Race obstacle course is made for people of all skill levels, from novices to those who take their training seriously. The obstacle course, [...]
13th Classic Motor Festival in Guardamar on Saturday, April 12
April 12, 2025    
10:00 - 18:00
According to the mayor of Guardamar del Segura, José Luis Sáez, the 13th Solidarity Motor Festival will be held on Saturday, April 12th, and is [...]
Holy Week in Torrevieja 2025
April 13, 2025 - April 20, 2025    
All Day
From April 13 (Palm Sunday) to April 20, 2025, there will be Holy Week. Following the lunar schedule, Holy Week takes place during the same [...]
Denia Market
April 14, 2025    
09:00 - 13:00
Dénia's enormous local market sells apparel, ceramics, household products, nuts, and sweets to locals and tourists. A churros stall greets tourists at the entrance. Summer [...]
Murcia Spring Flower Parade 24 April
April 24, 2025    
All Day
The colourful Flower Parade, popularly known as the "Battle of Flowers," throws fresh flowers at spectators. Murcian women in regional costumes atop floral-decorated floats. Over [...]
Gran Hotel Bali Benidorm Vertical Climb
April 26, 2025    
10:00 - 14:00
The most famous climb in Spain will take place at the highest hotel in Europe. The 19th annual Vertical Climb will take place on Saturday, [...]
Murcia Burying the Sardine Saturday 26th April 2025
April 26, 2025    
18:00
They do bury sardines. Music, colour, dancing, and processions precede the more solemn religious holidays as funfair season ends. This centuries-old ritual of burying a [...]
Villajoyosa Medieval Market Saturday 3rd May 2025
May 3, 2025    
All Day
Experience Villajoyosa's lovely coastal village and annual mediaeval market on a day trip. You have time to explore the town's attractions, seafront restaurants and cafes, [...]
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Denia Market
14 Apr 25
Dénia
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