Torrenueva now has its own municipal police force, thanks to an accord with the Albuñol Town Hall. Up until now the police service was covered by Motril.
This former Motril municipal dependency celebrated their birth (‘independence’ has almost become a dirty word with the Catalán situation) on the 9th of December last year.
Just as soon as it can recruit the four municipal policemen who will man the police office, then it will be a reality. The local police force will receive reinforcements during the summer (ten personnel) thanks to officers on detachment from inland municipalities.
In the meantime, the Mayor of Torrenueva Costa, as it is now known, Plácido Lara, said that they have been negotiating with other municipalities to lend police officers.
Talks with Motril failed because the police union there said that it would insist on their policemen charging overtime rates, which would work out at around 4,000 euros a month – far too much.
However, talks with Albuñol were more fruitful. Torrenueva will pay Albuñol 3,000 a month in order to share their policemen: the Albuñol policemen will do morning or afternoon shifts in Torrenueva and the rest of the day in Albuñol. This arrangement also includes the weekends.
The previous arrangement whereby Motril provided patrols around Torrenueva when it was a dependency was deficient, says Mayor Plácido Lara, being sporadic and few and far between. Now, however, with policemen on duty every day in town, Torrenueva will have a better grip on imposing bylaws such as street hawkers and dogs on the beach, for example.
For any emergencies Torrenueva can always count on the Guardia Civil and the Policía Nacional in cases of violent crimes etc.
This present arrangement with Albuñol will probably last about two years; the time needed to recruit its own policemen.
As for a patrol car, the Mayor is leasing one but hopes to be able to buy one as soon as possible.
The first Town Council will come about after the Municipal Elections in May and will one day count on a budget of some 4.5m euros.
(News: Torrenueva, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)