The Confederación Española de Policía says the Puerta del Sol encampment is blocking normal access to a public square. Its spokesperson is pressing Madrid's government delegate to act as the dispute over security and responsibility grows.
The encampment began on 26 September after a demonstration over Spain's housing crisis and the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen. Dozens of people stayed in Puerta del Sol that first night. Reports later counted roughly 100 tents and around 600 people.
David Gutiérrez of the Confederación Española de Policía says the camp should now be dismantled. His reason is direct. People cannot move through the square normally, he argues, so the site is no longer functioning as a common public space.
Кампинг начался 26 сентября после демонстрации против жилищного кризиса и выселения 87-летней Марикармен. По данным EFE, в первую ночь на площади остались десятки участников, а затем число протестующих выросло.
Gutiérrez made the remarks on La Noche de Cuesta. He rejected the idea that the gathering remains peaceful simply because there have been no physical clashes. In his view, blocked access can itself create a public-order problem.
The dispute turns on duration.
Gutiérrez says the legal requirement to notify a demonstration exists because a road or square may be occupied for a defined period. He does not believe that notification permits an indefinite presence. He also cited the Constitution's assignment of public security to the state as a reason for action by the relevant authorities.
That argument puts pressure on Government Delegate Francisco Martín Aguirre. Gutiérrez compared Madrid with Ceuta, where he said the Government Delegate had already acted two months late. He said Madrid was even further behind because assaults on Policía Nacional officers in the region have risen year after year.
Официальная позиция делегата правительства Франсиско Мартина была мягче: он называл лагерь мирным и заявлял, что задача сил правопорядка заключается в обеспечении безопасности граждан. При этом мэрия Мадрида обвиняла центральные власти в бездействии, тогда как источники, близкие к МВД, связывали возможное подключение национальной полиции прежде всего с появлением беспорядков.
The official line was softer. Francisco Martín described the camp as peaceful and said law enforcement's task was to protect public safety. A source close to the Interior Ministry said responsibility would remain with the municipal police while there were no incidents. National forces could become involved if disorder appeared.
Madrid City Hall accused the central authorities of doing nothing and demanded an explanation for the delay. Municipal sources said police had withdrawn after unauthorised tents appeared. Central authorities disputed that account.
Manos Limpias also announced a complaint against Francisco Martín. The group accused him of possible failure to perform his duties and of aiding the camp. That added a legal dispute to the political one.
Gutiérrez linked the argument to wider policing problems in the Community of Madrid. He said officers were confiscating more bladed weapons in the streets. He also said stabbings, attempted homicides and sexual assaults were increasing.
The reason is simple.
For years, the Confederación Española de Policía says it has sought more staff for the Policía Nacional and Guardia Civil. Gutiérrez wants the Government Delegate to expand the authorised staffing structure. He says that should take priority over issues he considers unrelated to security.
The immediate question is not only whether the camp has produced physical incidents. It is whether a prolonged occupation can continue when access for other residents is restricted. Responsibility for public order remains disputed between the police and the Government Delegation.
AFP and EFE place the camp within a wider wave of protests over housing costs, tenant protection and evictions in Spain. The demonstrations also include demands linked to the government's housing decree. Estimates changed quickly, so the reports need to be read together.
One report referred to dozens of participants. Another mentioned roughly 100 tents. A later account put the number at around 600 people.
The police union's position is clear: one group cannot hold a public square indefinitely if normal passage is blocked. If the occupation is unlawful or goes beyond the limits of a notified demonstration, the Government Delegation must address it through the proper legal and policing channels.
Public-order decisions also depend on available police resources. The reported rise in assaults and the long demand for more staff remain part of the same dispute.
