This summer, the Local Police will have approximately 50 officers permanently stationed in Orihuela Costa. In addition, there will be daily reinforcements during the morning, afternoon, and night shifts from other units. The number of these reinforcements varies depending on needs, planned events, and incidents, so the deployment is adapted daily to ensure the best possible coverage. However, this figure is the lowest since at least 2023, when 55 officers were deployed along the coast, followed by 66 in 2024 and 56 last year—including officers, commanders, and officers in command.
Although similar numbers, the citizens’ expectations of an increase in line with a summer period in which the population multiplies, potentially reaching 100,000 people, while the number of registered residents is around 30,000, are still not being met.
Especially considering that the Local Police are called upon for practically everything, from numerous accidents to many calls about disturbances—whether from a bar, a neighbour’s air conditioning, a dog, young people, etc.—as well as assistance to the elderly, administrative policing, traffic control, and public safety alerts. Furthermore, the coastline still lacks a Guardia Civil station, a request the City Council has repeatedly made to the Government and the Sub-delegation.
Special safety device
Just a year ago, during the presentation of the special summer security plan, the Mayor of Orihuela, Pepe Vegara, emphasised the need for more officers from the Guardia Civil, a request that was reiterated at a Local Security Board meeting in July. This included the possibility of allocating municipal land for a permanent post, and was especially pressing at the end of the year due to the increase in serious security incidents along the Orihuela coastline, such as the homicide on 21st December and a previous shooting in which an Irish resident was seriously wounded. These incidents involved a settling of scores between gangs.
In the case of Orihuela Costa, the agents assigned to La Torre del Pilar de la Horadada, a municipality that has also requested reinforcements, cover more than 15 kilometres and dozens of urbanisations on the Orihuela coast, although they occasionally receive reinforcements from the Torrevieja Company.
One of the main new features of this year’s operation, with a deployment of resources this Friday on the Playa Flamenca esplanade, is the increased number of police officers between 6:00 PM and 2:00 AM. This time period, according to statistics from previous campaigns, sees a spike in incidents and the highest volume of requests from residents.
“We want to adapt resources to the real needs of the coast and offer a more efficient, accessible, and preventative service, increasing police presence at the times and places where it is most needed,” stated the Councillor for Citizen Security, Mónica Pastor, who was accompanied by the mayor; the councillors for Coastal Affairs, Emergencies, and Civil Protection, Manuel Mestre and Víctor Valverde; and the Chief of the Local Police, Rubén Selma. They announced the resources that the City Council will mobilise to address one of the busiest periods of the year.
Resources
Thus, there will be a deployment of material resources consisting of patrol vehicles, Local Police motorcycles, surveillance drones and jet skis, also facilitating a faster and more coordinated response to any emergency.
For his part, Valverde indicated that the municipal Emergency and Civil Protection service will also be reinforced. To this end, a team will be permanently stationed in Orihuela Costa from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, maintaining operational support at all times from personnel who will continue to provide service from Orihuela and its outlying districts, and who can be deployed immediately in the event of any major incident.
Fires
The councilman announced the addition of the new emergency vehicle recently acquired by the City Council, a resource with a larger water tank than the previous one. This allows for a more effective initial response in case of fire while awaiting the arrival of the Provincial Fire Consortium, whose personnel typically come from Torrevieja due to its proximity to the town centre. It should be recalled that last year Vegara himself stated that they were in contact with the relevant authorities to arrange for the forest firefighters to be permanently stationed at the Orihuela Costa Security and Emergency Centre, but neither this nor the Guardia Civil barracks has yet materialised.
Valverde also highlighted that three officers have joined the service during the summer season, from July to the end of October. In addition, the Civil Protection Group is collaborating, with its volunteers providing support for preventative measures, large gatherings, and any extraordinary situations that may arise during the summer.
Meanwhile, Vegara highlighted the government team’s commitment to Orihuela Costa, which is not limited to the summer season, but rather responds to permanent planning, recalling that security is part of a global strategy to improve public services and coastal infrastructure.This summer, the Local Police will have approximately 50 officers permanently stationed in Orihuela Costa. In addition, there will be daily reinforcements during the morning, afternoon, and night shifts from other units. The number of these reinforcements varies depending on needs, planned events, and incidents, so the deployment is adapted daily to ensure the best possible coverage. However, this figure is the lowest since at least 2023, when 55 officers were deployed along the coast, followed by 66 in 2024 and 56 last year—including officers, commanders, and officers in command.
Although similar numbers, the citizens’ expectations of an increase in line with a summer period in which the population multiplies, potentially reaching 100,000 people, while the number of registered residents is around 30,000, are still not being met.
Especially considering that the Local Police are called upon for practically everything, from numerous accidents to many calls about disturbances—whether from a bar, a neighbour’s air conditioning, a dog, young people, etc.—as well as assistance to the elderly, administrative policing, traffic control, and public safety alerts. Furthermore, the coastline still lacks a Guardia Civil station, a request the City Council has repeatedly made to the Government and the Sub-delegation.
Special safety device
Just a year ago, during the presentation of the special summer security plan, the mayor of Orihuela, Pepe Vegara, emphasised the need for more officers from the Guardia Civil, a request that was reiterated at a Local Security Board meeting in July. This included the possibility of allocating municipal land for a permanent post, and was especially pressing at the end of the year due to the increase in serious security incidents along the Orihuela coastline, such as the homicide on 21st December and a previous shooting in which an Irish resident was seriously wounded. These incidents were related to a settling of scores between gangs.
In the case of Orihuela Costa, it is the agents assigned to La Torre del Pilar de la Horadada, a municipality that has also requested reinforcements, who cover more than 15 kilometres and dozens of urbanisations on the Orihuela coast, although they occasionally receive reinforcements from the Torrevieja Company.
One of the main new features of this year’s operation, with a deployment of resources this Friday on the Playa Flamenca esplanade, is the increased number of police officers between 6:00 PM and 2:00 AM. This time period, according to statistics from previous campaigns, sees a spike in incidents and the highest volume of requests from residents.
“We want to adapt resources to the real needs of the coast and offer a more efficient, accessible, and preventative service, increasing police presence at the times and places where it is most needed,” stated the Councillor for Citizen Security, Mónica Pastor, who was accompanied by the mayor; the councillors for Coastal Affairs, Emergencies, and Civil Protection, Manuel Mestre and Víctor Valverde; and the Chief of the Local Police, Rubén Selma. They announced the resources that the City Council will mobilise to address one of the busiest periods of the year.
Resources
Thus, there will be a deployment of material resources consisting of patrol vehicles, Local Police motorcycles, surveillance drones and jet skis, also facilitating a faster and more coordinated response to any emergency.
For his part, Valverde indicated that the municipal Emergency and Civil Protection service will also be reinforced. To this end, a team will be permanently stationed in Orihuela Costa from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, maintaining operational support at all times from personnel who will continue to provide service from Orihuela and its outlying districts, and who can be deployed immediately in the event of any major incident.
Fires
The councilman announced the addition of the new emergency vehicle recently acquired by the City Council, a resource with a larger water tank than the previous one. This allows for a more effective initial response in case of fire while awaiting the arrival of the Provincial Fire Consortium, whose personnel typically come from Torrevieja due to its proximity to the town centre. It should be recalled that last year Vegara himself stated that they were in contact with the relevant authorities to arrange for the forest firefighters to be permanently stationed at the Orihuela Costa Security and Emergency Centre, but neither this nor the Guardia Civil barracks have yet materialised.
Valverde also highlighted that three officers have joined the service during the summer season, from July to the end of October. In addition, the Civil Protection Group is collaborating, with its volunteers providing support for preventative measures, large gatherings, and any extraordinary situations that may arise during the summer.
Meanwhile, Vegara highlighted the government team’s commitment to Orihuela Costa, which is not limited to the summer season, but rather responds to permanent planning, recalling that security is part of a global strategy to improve public services and coastal infrastructure.
