Spanish municipalities face police staffing shortages

Labor unions CSIF and UGT have raised alarms regarding police staffing shortages in the Spanish municipalities of Puente Genil and Granadilla de Abona, citing risks to public safety.

In Puente Genil, unions report that the local police force has decreased from 48 officers in 2018 to 42 currently. They claim the municipality has failed to maintain the minimum requirement of two operational patrols per shift since January, leaving the area “underprotected.” Unions attribute the deficit to structural issues and unfulfilled vacancies, noting that current absences are due to medical and family reconciliation reasons rather than labor disputes.

In Granadilla de Abona, the UGT Public Services Federation warned that a conflict between the local police union and the municipal corporation has escalated into a security issue. The federation reports that night shifts are frequently left uncovered, some days have no available officers, and the police headquarters has occasionally remained closed and unguarded. They criticized the reliance on temporary solutions and requested that the municipal government implement structural measures to ensure continuous coverage.