Almeida, acompañado de Sanz, during the meeting of the Council and the Local Security Board held this morning at the Casa de la Villa
The Municipal Police Force of Madrid increased its activity in gender and domestic violence in 2024, carrying out more interventions, arrests, protections, and follow-ups, as highlighted by the mayor of the city, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, after the Council and Local Security Board meetings held today at the Casa de la Villa, which he co-chaired with the Government delegate in the region, Francisco Martín, and where the security situation in Madrid was reviewed.
After the meeting, attended by the deputy mayor and delegate of Security and Emergencies, Inma Sanz, the main officials and representatives in security matters of the capital and the spokespersons of the municipal groups, Almeida emphasized the efforts of the City Council and the Municipal Police to make Madrid a safer city, in collaboration with the rest of the security forces and bodies.
Commitment against gender violence and agents tutors
In the field of gender violence, the Municipal Police of Madrid carried out 737 security interventions last year (18% more than in 2023), 548 of them with detainees (22% more), acted in 1,083 cases of breach of restraining orders (almost 58% more than the previous year), in 7,296 follow-ups (15% more), and protected 27 victims in court (80% more). In total, during 2024, the municipal body processed about 5,000 cases of gender (4,737) and domestic violence (182) and were assigned 2,392 new cases, 0.84% more than the previous year, of which a thousand had assigned risk levels.
The mayor also highlighted the work of the Police Municipal’s Agents Tutors Service, which plays an important role in contact with minors in the city and was significantly reinforced during the previous term. These tutors increased their contact with schools by 12% last year (over 4,200), where more than 17,000 surveillances were conducted, exceeding the commitments acquired in the body’s service charter. Among their functions is working to prevent minors from being recruited by violent youth gangs, in contact with educational centers and in coordination with other police units and administrations.
Interventions during 2024
In 2024, the agents of the Municipal Police of Madrid intervened in more than 415,000 incidents that took place in the city, with reports mainly coming from the 092 (61.6%) and 112 (32.1%) phones.
Around 15,000 interventions were related to public safety, with an increase in those related to individuals, sexual matters, and property (thefts, damages, robberies with violence or intimidation, etc.). In this regard, static operational devices increased by 12.4% (with about 6,200) and the commitment to collaborate with the other security forces and bodies that hold the main responsibilities in this area, such as the National Police (CNP) and the Civil Guard, was maintained. Additionally, the Municipal Police ensured security at about 1,000 gatherings and demonstrations, with over 600 of them in collaboration with the CNP.
In 2024, there were 1,600 requests from other security forces and courts to the Municipal Police of Madrid for images from the surveillance cameras operated by the body, a 17.5% increase from the previous year, following the significant reinforcement of these security systems in different neighborhoods of the capital since 2019: 40% of all cameras operated by the Municipal Police (almost 150) have been installed since Almeida became mayor.
Another significant investment of the municipal government team of Madrid in technological matters was the creation of the Air Support Section, whose personnel with their drones carried out 32% more operations last year, totaling over 2,500. The section is now comprised of 34 drones, equipped with thermal cameras, night vision, etc., very useful for carrying out police interventions, preventive services, collaboration with other bodies like the Fire Department, etc.
Judicial Police
In 2024, the labor accidents investigated by the Judicial Police of the Municipal Police in the capital decreased by 21%, as did the number of minor, severe, and very severe injuries. This Judicial Police carried out a total of 215 official investigations last year, a 54% increase from the previous year. Additionally, over 1,700 actions related to other judicial practices were carried out throughout the year, a 52% increase.
In terms of road safety, the Municipal Police of Madrid conducted 8% more reports (4,381) than the previous year and carried out over 125,000 tests for alcohol and drugs detection. In this regard, positives for drug consumption while driving increased by 31%, while alcohol positives decreased by 17%. Additionally, municipal agents conducted nearly 10,400 road safety education sessions, in line with the previous year.
Combatting vandalism and compliance with other ordinances
The Urban Heritage Protection Section (SEPROPUR) completed its first full year of activity (launched in November 2023) combating vandalism and uncivil graffiti in the capital with over 3,500 interventions, 108 reports filed, and 423 complaints lodged. Activity data in this area has exponentially increased compared to before the establishment of this police section.
Regarding the Administrative Police, municipal agents in Madrid imposed a total of 40,611 fines for consuming alcohol in public spaces (the so-called ‘botellón’), 2% more than the previous year, 274 of them to minors (1% less). Additionally, the Municipal Police issued 5,238 complaints related to protection against noise and thermal pollution (12.5% more than the previous year), as well as 636 complaints related to fire prevention (42.4% more).
In the field of environmental protection, the responsible station increased surveillance of Madrid’s parks by 5.5%, with 5,876 complaints (47% more) for inappropriate use of these spaces.
Highlighted Interventions and Presence in Valencia after the DANA
The municipal police of Madrid carried out numerous notable interventions throughout 2024. For example, last January, agents from the Traffic Judicial Police Station managed to arrest the perpetrator of the fatal hit-and-run on Christmas Eve the previous year on Avenida de la Aviación, who had fled after hitting a father and his daughter crossing at a pedestrian crossing, following a thorough investigation.
Also significant was the work of the Municipal Police in the Valencian municipalities affected by the DANA in October – along with their colleagues from emergency services, cleaning services, and EMT Madrid – with over 550 Madrid municipal agents deployed in different shifts, with the necessary vehicles and resources, to assist the local Valencian authorities in addressing the situation and restoring normalcy. Additionally, the Municipal Police donated nine vehicles to the town halls of Paiporta, Algemesí, and Massanassa, which were left without security cars to carry out their functions. Before that, they collaborated and opened their 22 district police stations to receive donations from Madrid residents for Valencia.
Another significant intervention took place last February in the Centro district, when agents from the Centro Norte Police Station, during an alcohol and document check on a VTC vehicle, found a visibly nervous passenger carrying plastic bags with over two million euros in cash. He was arrested after failing to confirm the source of the money for alleged money laundering.
In terms of drugs, a joint operation with the National Police was important, where nine individuals distributing drugs on electric scooters were arrested in the Hortaleza district: after multiple surveillance operations, the agents carried out five searches in homes and a establishment, where small doses of drugs were being delivered, finding over 200 packages of cocaine ready for sale, a firearm, four scooters, and 8,900 euros in cash, among other items. The detainees were handed over to the judicial authority as alleged perpetrators of crimes against public health, illegal possession of prohibited weapons, receipt, and violation of the Immigration Law.
Also noteworthy was the arrest of a man last October who was driving under the influence of alcohol, weaving on the M-30 with a baby in his arms. He was arrested by agents of the Special Services Police Station for two offenses against road safety: driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving. The Women, Children, and Elderly Support and Protection Police Station opened a protection file for the minor.
Madrid, a safe city in need of more municipal agents
Almeida emphasized that Madrid is a safe city and expressly acknowledged the efforts of the Municipal Police and the National Police in recent years, reaffirming his government team’s commitment to the state’s security forces and bodies.
Despite the positive security data, he recalled the concerns of the City Council (presence of violent youth gangs in certain neighborhoods, sexual assault statistics, drug dens, ‘squatter’ cases, etc.), reiterating the need for legal reforms by the Spanish Government to provide the state’s security forces and bodies with the tools to address these issues.
Almeida also noted that Madrid has grown and continues to grow in population, new neighborhoods are being developed, there are more tourists in the city, and the number of events it hosts increases year after year. Despite all this, the capital has fewer than 6,000 municipal police officers (less than during Mayor Ruiz-Gallardón’s tenure), so he has once again requested the Spanish Government to modify the replacement rate so that the City Council can expand its police force and the city can have the number of agents it needs. /
