Benidorm police face hate crime trial for alleged harassment of trans woman

Two local police officers in Benidorm are facing trial at the Provincial Court of Alicante for alleged hate crimes. The prosecution is seeking prison sentences of between two years and two months and two years and six months for each officer.

The charges stem from an incident in May 2020 during the COVID-19 mobility restrictions. According to the prosecution, the officers used humiliating and degrading language toward a transgender woman while patrolling the streets. A video recorded by one of the officers was subsequently shared among colleagues and later circulated on social media.

The Public Prosecutor's Office argues that the officers acted with discriminatory motivation against the transgender community. While the officer who recorded the footage denied any intent to discriminate, the court will determine if the conduct constitutes a hate crime.