For the first time, Lloret de Mar’s local police station in Girona had no officers on duty overnight from Saturday into Sunday, bringing local police operations to a halt. The closure followed the simultaneous absence of 38 officers. Mayor Adrià Lamelas called the situation unprecedented and a serious concern for the town, which receives more than a million tourists each year.
Sick leave, sudden illness, long-term medical absences and scheduled holidays left the night shift without staff. Morning and daytime patrols continued, but the town had no local police presence overnight. The town council hired a private security company to guard the station and requested additional patrols from the Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s regional police force.
The staffing crisis came amid a long-running dispute between officers and the municipal government over renewal of the employment agreement, which expired in 2012. Lamelas, a member of the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC), said the situation had become critical as the summer tourist season reached its peak. Lloret de Mar has more than 43,000 residents and depends heavily on tourism.
Municipal sources said an employee-related incident on the day of the closure made it impossible to staff the night shifts. To keep residents connected with the police, the police chief set up a point for in-person and telephone inquiries. Private security guarded the station as the Mossos d’Esquadra increased their presence in the area.
Negotiations between the police union and the mayor had been deadlocked for months, and officers were refusing overtime until an agreement was reached. The municipal government said it remained open to discussions and proposals, while insisting that any agreement must comply with legal and other constraints. Opposition parties, including Junts, Tots per Lloret and ERC, criticized the administration, blaming poor planning and a lack of leadership for allowing the dispute to escalate.
Lloret de Mar’s police force has 110 officers. Information from town hall sources, the local force was recognized as municipal police in 2017, when officers received reclassification and salary increases. Union representatives said progress on a new agreement had been insufficient. The parties had scheduled another meeting to try to resolve the impasse.
Lloret de Mar is one of the Costa Brava’s most visited destinations, with annual tourism exceeding 1.2 million visitors, according to the article. The town’s reliance on tourism makes public safety especially impressive during the summer months. The Mossos d’Esquadra serve across Catalonia and can support local police during staffing pressures.
