Ensuring a safe festive period in the city of Alicante is the daily responsibility of more than three hundred men and women from the National Police. A patrol unit spent over six hours on duty during an intense night at the Hogueras (Bonfires) festival, which resulted in several arrests for theft and domestic abuse, false alarms caused by firecrackers, and an altercation involving pepper spray at a central festival encampment (racó).
The patrol commenced at 22:00 on Monday 22nd June from the Provincial Police Station. With Tuesday being a local holiday, tens of thousands of people filled the streets. Many roads remained closed to traffic, while others experienced heavy congestion due to festival participants finishing the flower offering to the Virgen del Remedio at the San Nicolás Co-cathedral.
The first radio alert arrived quickly, reporting a fight on a stationary bus at Plaza del Mar. The driver, Officer Raúl, demonstrated high driving skills to reach the scene as rapidly as possible, where other officers were already managing the situation. Three individuals of foreign origin were attended to next to the stopped vehicle. The situation was resolved quickly, and fortunately, the clash was minor.
Preventative work was also carried out nearby. At Postiguet beach, dozens of fans of the Argentine national football team were celebrating a 2-0 victory against Austria, where Messi made history once again. Three units of the Police Intervention Unit (UIP), the specialised riot control squads, were deployed there. Their objective was to prevent issues, following disturbances recorded a few days prior during a previous victory by the Argentine team.
The first arrest of the night occurred at 23:25 on Avenida de Alfonso el Sabio. The suspect, a foreign national with an extensive criminal record, was well-known to the officers who secure the streets of Alicante. On this occasion, he was arrested whilst carrying four wallets belonging to different individuals. Cristian Plazas, the spokesperson for the National Police, reminded the public to remain vigilant against professional pickpockets who operate unnoticed throughout the day in crowded areas and beaches.
Another alert soon followed regarding a fight at a well-known bar on Avenida de Aguilera. Officers managed to calm the two men involved, preventing the conflict from escalating and allowing the establishment to close its doors peacefully.
Around midnight, the first false alarm of the night occurred, triggered by firecrackers. The heavy use of gunpowder caused vibration-sensitive security systems to deploy officers unnecessarily. Authorities have recommended extreme caution when using these items due to the impact caused by their detonations.
The next arrest involved a highly unusual sequence of events. Past midnight, a foreign national was using drugs in the middle of Rambla de Méndez Núñez, near the Casa de la Festa. When cautioned by two officers, the individual threw the drugs over himself and assaulted one of the officers, lunging forward and causing a small cut to the officer’s hand. This assault on authority resulted in the individual being taken to the police station.
This incident highlights that the 93 patrolling officers, along with the special UIP deployment, are supported by off-duty officers who alert their colleagues when dangerous situations arise.
At 00:30, another assault occurred. First-line radio patrol vehicles (Zetas) responded to a fight at Plaza de Les Palmeretes. A man of foreign origin reported that another individual had assaulted him over an outstanding debt, causing a cut to his head. The alleged attacker, a 45-year-old grey-haired man wearing a blue T-shirt, fled the scene. The victim, who was bleeding slightly from his forehead, was assisted, and a search for the suspect commenced.
Around 01:00, the third arrest of the night took place. The partner of a woman of foreign origin reported that she had assaulted him while they were on Calle Calderón de la Barca. Officers placed her into a patrol car amidst shouting and protests so she could answer to the case at the police station.
The hours after 02:00 proved to be the most challenging. The late-night hours often see increased conflict due to the abuse of alcohol and other substances, while some individuals believe the dark provides a cover for criminal activities.
Consequently, a large deployment is vital during the Hogueras days. The local Alicante force is reinforced by UIP units from Madrid, as well as Prevention and Reaction Units (UPR) from Benidorm and Elche. These are supplemented by the Operational Response Group from four zones, the Citizen Security Group, the Information Brigade, and Tedax bomb disposal experts monitoring the use of gunpowder.
During these operations at 02:45, a call for help from a young woman on Paseo de los Mártires de la Libertad required officers at the port. Three young people were assisting the woman after a young man of foreign origin stole her iPhone 12. Officers pursued the suspect, described as being in his twenties, clean-shaven, and wearing a blue T-shirt, who was believed to be nearby.
