A video from the Alicante municipality of Torrevieja has gone popular on social media, depicting an incident of violence against multiple officers. The clip shows numerous people deliberately and angrily interfering with a police intervention, obstructing the authorities’ efforts.
During the video, some of the present residents heckle and even strike the officers with garbage bags and other blunt objects. The video also reveals how, while they are throwing waste at the officers, one of the arrested men takes advantage of the pandemonium to run.
As a result, the Professional Union of Local Police and Firefighters (SPPLB) issued a statement on Sunday, July 13th, condemning the attack on the Torrevieja officers and expressing “concern over the serious events that have occurred.”
The Labour Organisation has claimed that “this type of behaviour represents a serious violation of the principle of authority and endangers both the physical integrity of members of the Security Forces and Corps and the safety of all citizens.”
The SPPLB sent a letter offering “full support for the colleagues who acted with professionalism, restraint, and firmness in a high-risk situation.” Furthermore, they demand that the appropriate authorities take the most severe legal action against those guilty of these acts.
They have also asked the Ministry of the Interior and the Government Subdelegation for “an urgent reinforcement of human and material resources in particularly conflictive areas during the summer season.”
In addition, the group advocates for “an urgent institutional campaign to foster respect for law enforcement officers and raise public awareness about the importance of their work.”
The labour organisation has also asked the legislature to “promote urgent regulatory reform that would toughen penalties for those who attack members of the Security Forces, as an exemplary measure against such intolerable behaviour.”
According to the group’s statement, SPPLB is demanding “greater legal protection” for officers while performing their duties, as well as a review of operational protocols, “assessing the need” to increase the number of officers on patrol, following the model of action of European countries, “where interventions are carried out with adequate reinforcements.”
Finally, the union contends that “officer actions are not only legitimate but necessary for coexistence, order, and public safety.” We must not allow disobedience, hostility, or intimidation of those who defend our rights and liberties to become commonplace.” In addition, they contend that “assaulting or obstructing an officer in the performance of their duties is a crime under the Penal Code, and we demand its unremitting prosecution.”
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