Costa del Sol
New district police on their bikes in Marbella
By m.p.
Feb 25, 2008 - 8:07 PM

New local police patrols have started in Marbella, the Policia de Barrio, a force of 38 officers who will be patrolling the streets of Marbella and San Pedro on motorcycles.

The patrols, which started on Monday, initially cover two areas: in Marbella, in the centre, Divina Pastora, El Barrio, Santa Marta and the Paseo Marítimo; and in San Pedro, in the centre, El Arquillo, Fuente Nueva and Divina Pastora.

The plan is to extend the patrols across the municipality, and the Mayor of Marbella, Ángeles Muñoz, said the unit will be operational throughout this legislature. Liaison meetings have been announced with schools, business owners and residents’ associations as part of a policy of community policing.

Maria Francisca Caracuel, the councillor with responsibility for public safety, noted that this new unit will not take the place of current patrols on the street, which will continue, but will complement those already in place. Close to half the officers assigned to motorcycle unit are experienced officers in the local force, and the remainder are from the latest intake.