Tourist boom leads to more prosecutions

FRANCISCO Martinez, the Palma judge, predicted a “big” growth in the number of prosecutions in the Balearics in 2006.
He predicted this as a consequence of the tourist “boom” on the islands, as an increase in visitors (the Balearics has smashed all records for the number of hotel places being occupied) normally coincides with an increase in prosecutions. In 2005, the courts dealt with 203'207 cases. This year it is being forecast that the Balearics will break all records with more than 210'000 cases. “If the population increases in Summer, it is logical that there will be more crime”, said Martinez. The judge also referred to the problems which the courts have with the temporary increase in population caused by tourism. “It involves an increase of every type of necessity in our community”, he said. Last year there were a total of 257'937 prosecutions, of which 56'939 (some 20 percent of the total) are still to be heard. In September the Balearic Government expects to submit a document to the Spanish Government, citing a cost of 100 million euros for the transfer of the management of the Justice system.