Minister announces fight against crime

Spain's Home Secretary, Mariano Rajoy, yesterday announced a new police programme to fight organised crime which will be launched in Palma, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Las Palmas, Seville, Malaga, Tenerife and Vigo. He told Congress in Madrid that the chief objective of this plan is to combat drug trafficking, financial crime, money laundering, prostitution and traffic in human beings and crimes related to minors and the family. At the same time, Rajoy said that a new law would be drawn up for the National Police, similar to the one already approved for the Guardia Civil, and it will be approved during this legislature. Rajoy announced the results of Plan 2000 which, he said, had led to a reduction of nearly seven per cent in crime. He also underlined the importance of the new Guardia Civil unit for guarding the coasts, which will have posts with sensors to fight against drug trafficking and to detect the arrival of illegal immigrants.