The Villajoyosa City Council has launched its new rapid response police unit. This is the Operational Security Response Unit (UROS) of the Local Police, described as a versatile and flexible group to meet the current needs of the city. Mayor Marcos Zaragoza and Councillor for Citizen Security Jaime Santamaría presented the new unit yesterday Tuesday, 7th July. The unit consists of 11 officers and one sergeant, and is equipped with the necessary resources to respond quickly to incidents within the municipality. The K9 Unit of the Canine Police also joins the unit.
The mayor explained that public safety and having an adequate Local Police force is key in a city like Villajoyosa, and providing this police force with the best resources is one of the objectives set from the beginning of the legislature. The mayor stated that they are restructuring the Local Police. Bureaucracy has hindered efficiency, but the results are starting to show. They have 10 more officers, have created 11 new positions in the staff roster, and will continue along this path. There is one more superintendent on staff, ten officers who have completed training at IVASPE (Valencian Institute of Public Security), and work continues diligently. This is proof of that: a new unit created exclusively for Public Safety.
The mayor added that they continue working from the City Hall because the Spanish government has abandoned them regarding resources for the Guardia Civil. Of the 55 officers, there are only 40, and there should be 80 because they also cover the region. What they fail to do in Madrid, the local authorities have to do themselves with their own resources. Zaragoza emphasised that the City Council and the mayor are determined to resolve, as far as possible, the minor problems that exist in the municipality. It is complicated if the laws do not change, and in this country, they need to be tightened. They will be attentive to everything that can be changed and contributed from the Villajoyosa City Council to improve security.
For his part, the Councillor for Citizen Security, Jaime Santamaría, pointed out that the creation of this specialised unit is key to continuing to serve citizens and offer a quick and effective response to the citizen security problems they may encounter in the municipality.
Santamaría emphasised that Villajoyosa is a coastal city with year-round tourist appeal, which means the population continues to grow, reaching almost 40,000 registered residents this year, in addition to the transient population. This growth requires the force to evolve and equip the Local Police with modern tools to achieve an optimal level of security, where residents and visitors have a maximum sense of peace and closeness with law enforcement. The Councillor for Citizen Security has indicated that this unit was created to provide specific coverage both to improve citizen security and the operational needs arising from the large volume of social events and the exponential increase in population during the summer season. Currently, the UROS unit has 11 agents and one officer who will guarantee immediate availability and police presence 24 hours a day, joined by the K9 Unit, the Canine Police.
Carlos Mota, head of the Local Police, indicated that the residents’ demand in a municipality like this, with more than 40,000 inhabitants and a population that triples in summer, is answered by the creation of this unit, with the effort made by the City Council. The police official stated that actions will be initiated that will have an immediate impact on public safety. Mota noted that there will be ongoing training for officers and the UROS unit is already fully operational.
Among the functions of the UROS group will be to guarantee compliance with municipal, traffic and public safety regulations, as well as collaboration in Judicial Police functions and carrying out procedures to prevent crimes. In addition, preventive patrols will be carried out, public order control at large events, the eradication of alcohol consumption by minors and drug trafficking in public places, operating through planned checkpoints and the tactical support of a specialised canine unit.
The group is also known for its mediation work in private conflicts, the creation of security plans together with the local social and educational fabric, assistance to the population in disaster situations and constant support to the rest of the Security Forces. In addition, two K9 units have been added to provide support in substance detection, security, and rescue operations. The councillor for the area noted that to ensure maximum operational effectiveness, they have equipped this police unit with specialised protective gear, including helmets, shields, battering rams, vehicle control equipment, and specific vehicles, such as a police van.
