POLICE INCREASE MOJACAR PRESENCE AT WEEKENDS

The twenty Policia Locale in Mojacar are having their numbers increased to 50 at weekends by officers from Vicar, Huércal-Overa, Cuevas del Almanzora and Nijar

They have been deployed in the town since late July in order to dissuade teenagers who drink in public, a common practice among younger drinkers during the holiday period.

Three years ago the City Council approved an ordinance banning drinking on the streets, in other open spaces and on beaches, from the beginning of summer months. Mojacar residents said they had grown tired following a series of incidents in the town resulting from the practice, as the noise produced by these groups went on until the early hours of the morning. In addition to the noise there was an unacceptable amount of mess generated throughout the town, as well as broken street furniture, park benches, frequent urination and vomiting in many public spaces.

It was thought that holidaymakers were being put off coming to the town, which is regularly chosen by many families as a holiday destination, by the actions of these youngsters and as such tourism was beginning to suffer. In order to control the situation the deployment of the additional officers was agreed from Cuevas del Almanzora, Huércal-Overa, Nijar and Vicar.

“We appreciate the solidarity of the municipalities of Almeria, where policemen are moving to Mojacar, especially at weekends, when more people are concentrated in our municipality. Our intention is simply to stop illegal drinking and the problems caused by it. In fact, since we have reinforced the police presence we have seen a significant reduction in the number of groups wandering around the town, especially in the area of bars, carrying bags with drinks inside, “says the mayor of the PP, Rosa María Cano .

As well as the additional police, the action, which will involve a cost to the municipal budget of about € 75,000 includes hiring a number of vehicles that the officers need to move around in. Since the beginning of the summer there have been about 2,000 prosecutions related to this practice as well as misuse of the beaches and public spaces. Drinking in public carries an automatic financial penalty of 100 euros.

But the police efforts relate not only to the eradication of the bottle, they are also in place to try to combat the problems associated with excessive noise that prevents residents from sleeping, as well as the creation of additional mess, vomiting and urination, which also increases spending on personnel and material for cleaning.