Spain's safest regions identified as crime falls but organized gangs rise in Catalonia

The Verisure Home and Business Security Observatory released a report ranking Spain's autonomous communities by the lowest level of home intrusions. La Rioja, Galicia, Navarra, Extremadura and the Community of Madrid lead the list for 2024, with Guadalajara, Lugo and León topping the provincial rankings. The study also noted the biggest year‑on‑year declines in intrusions in Andalusia, Murcia, Castilla‑La León, Aragón and La Rioja.

In parallel, an editorial on Catalonia’s security highlighted a significant drop in thefts, violent robberies and other property crimes during the first half of 2024, attributing the improvement to recent legal reforms and coordinated police efforts in Barcelona and the broader region. However, officials warned of a growing threat from organized criminal groups, increased drug‑related murders, rising firearm use and a recent bust of a weapons‑trafficking network supplying pistols, rifles and even a rocket launcher to local gangs. Authorities stress the need to maintain vigilance despite the overall crime decline.