Benidorm Local Police have issued more than 1,000 penalties this year for the unauthorised sale of drinks and massage services on the beaches of Benidorm. To better combat these unauthorised activities, the council is asking the central government to allow officers to patrol in plain clothes.
The Councillor for Public Safety in Benidorm, Jesús Carrobles, has requested permission from the Sub-delegation of the Government in Alicante for the Local Police to carry out plain-clothes patrols occasionally. This measure aims to increase effectiveness during specific operations, such as those targeting street vending on the seafront.
Carrobles reiterated the request after reviewing the actions taken by the Local Police so far this year against illegal sales, massage services, and other prohibited beach activities.
The head of Public Safety highlighted the maximum involvement and commitment shown by the Local Police in fighting unauthorised street vending and services, particularly during the summer. The force features a dedicated section operating with hours tailored to peak visitor times on the sand.
So far in 2026, the Local Police have issued 964 reports for selling drinks and other products on the beaches, marking a 7.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. A further 86 fines were issued for offering massages or other commercial services, representing a 60 percent drop compared to 2025.
Figures show that police pressure applied during July significantly reduced street vending of drinks in August, nearly cutting it in half from 420 reports to 237. A similar trend was observed for massages and other business activities, which fell from 28 reports in July to 9 in August.
Fines for drink and product sales on the beaches total 289,200 euro, while penalties imposed for unauthorised massages and other services amount to 25,800 euro. However, a large portion of these fines cannot be collected because the offenders declare themselves insolvent.
Carrobles insisted that it is essential to have the operational means and conditions to optimise the service and achieve greater effectiveness against these illegal activities. He stressed that the Sub-delegation of the Government’s refusal to grant an exemption from wearing uniforms reduces the impact of beach operations, as offenders easily identify uniformed officers from a distance, making it harder to catch them in the act.
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