People who go to the National Police Station in Benidorm have to deal with an old building on Calle Apolo XI that can’t handle the work or fit the 400 policemen that work there. Benidorm gave up land in 2015 so that a new building could be built in Salt del L’Aigüa, but the project hasn’t been given any money yet. Senator Agustín Almodóbar from the PP has asked the Senate for money to build the structure and has accused the administration of “institutional mistreatment.” The Secretary of State for Security said that they are thinking about adding the project to the next Infrastructure Plan.
The request for a new police station has been on hold for a while. When the Benidorm City Council gave up 5,000 square metres of land in the Salt de L’Aigüa region, near to the current courthouse on the outskirts of the city, it seemed to move forward. The City Council wrote a project two years later, and it was waiting to be added to the General State Budget (PGE).
“Negligence and deceit”
The government asked for two changes to the original plan, mostly because it was too expensive. Even so, the City Council hasn’t heard back, and in the meantime, it has been left out of the 2023 budget. Popular Party Senator Agustín Almodóbar has called this “negligence” and “political deception.”
Once again, Almodóbar has asked the Senate to give the new National Police Station in Benidorm a permanent boost. He criticised the project being blocked and the Spanish Government’s lack of commitment, even though it is a “strategic and absolutely necessary” piece of infrastructure for one of Europe’s most popular tourist spots.
Changes to the current
The legislator wants the government to give them a schedule with specific dates for when construction will begin. He is also asking for a “sufficient and guaranteed” sum to be included in the next budget right away and for the 2017 preliminary design to be approved. All of this needs to happen while the current police station is being quickly fixed up and the new one is being built at the same time.
It’s important to remember that the Ministry of the Interior planned to build this building as part of the State Security Infrastructure Plan 2019–2025. However, they have not given it a budget, even though the City Council made changes to the project at the request of the Ministry of the Interior.
In his speech, Almodóbar talked to Ana María Calvo Sastre, the Secretary of State for Security, to complain about the state of the building that serves as a police station. He said that it is too old for a population of 70,000 people and that the peak tourist growth makes the service even worse.
A leap of faith
The secretary answered the senator’s intervention by saying that the police station will be part of the next Infrastructure Plan. “I can’t ask for an act of faith,” she said, “but it would be a big help if you supported us in the spending cap and the General State Budgets to unblock the project.”
Not good enough for anyone
The Benidorm police station opened in 1972 to house 170 policemen. Now, there are 400 officers there. “The officers work, help victims, investigate, patrol and fight crime in a building that is 53 years old and not suitable for today’s needs.” The Benidorm senator said, “It is undignified for the officers, for the residents, and for an international tourist destination like Benidorm.”
The senator said, “Security is not an accessory.” It’s about keeping a tourist city safe that gets millions of people every year. “Fifty-three years later, Benidorm won’t take empty promises anymore.” “Benidorm needs action, respect, and the police station it deserves and is entitled to,” Almodóbar said in conclusion.
Author: Derek Appleton
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