Barcelona council greenlights Taser pistols for urban police

The Barcelona City Council approved a proposal to equip the Guardia Urbana with Taser devices and related equipment. The measure passed with votes from the Popular Party (PP), the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC), Vox and Junts, while opposition parties such as Barcelona en Comú and ERC voted against it.

The approved text obliges the municipal government to publish a regulation within a month, start the procurement process within three months and include personal‑recording cameras, cartridges, batteries, maintenance and continuous training for authorised officers. A deployment plan must ensure the devices are available in all districts and shifts, prioritising high‑risk units.

The initiative cites the June 18 knife attack near General Mitre as a catalyst, arguing that Tasers offer a non‑lethal alternative to firearms. It also references a previous 2025 proposal that failed after opposition parties blocked the regulation. The council aims to have the first devices operational before the current term ends in spring 2027.