The new ordinance reduces the number of articles from 268 to 67, with many previous matters, such as water supply, having been embraced by other bylaws. It places emphasis on behaviour, that of residents and tourists, and makes clear that visitors to the municipality should respect standards of co-existence and hygiene. The bylaw was first drawn up in May last year, with the aim of improving public order in the likes of Magalluf.
Among its provisions, there is a ban on the sale of alcohol to people who are already drunk, while the consumption of alcohol is to be regulated and prohibited in public areas and when it might cause a nuisance to residents. There is a specific banning of the botellón.
Prostitution will attract fines of between 600 and 1,500 euros (and this will cover clients as well as prostitutes), while balconing will have a fine of up to 3,000 euros for those who either engage in it or incite it.
The Partido Popular opposition at the town hall is already criticising the new ordinance. It will turn the local police into tax collectors and not help with public safety, the party argues. It won't solve current problems and nor will it meet the needs of the police force. The PP suggests that residential areas of the municipality which require police surveillance and controls will find these being reduced.
The party stresses the high number of emergencies that the police need to deal with. In addition to basic duties such as traffic, it believes that there should be a specialised and professional force that is dedicated to public safety. Social circumstances have changed, the PP contends, and so the police cannot be relegated to duties of imposing fines. A particular omission in the ordinance is a patrol for rural areas, where there have been theft and environmental offences.
There is further criticism of the decision to recruit ten new police officers and so not take on the temporary police who have worked in Calvia over the past few summers. The PP says that they have done excellent work and know the municipality. Rather than there being a pool of these temporary officers, they will now find themselves out of work this summer.
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Fines won't help. Just chuck anyone misbehaving in the cells for 48 hours. The word will get around and the behaviour by the Brits on the pi** will become reflect this.They do what they do because they know they can get away with it.
Not sure about new laws, yesterday was lawless. To me Magaluf hit a new low. Fella in a mankini and braiding woman braiding his pubic hair. This taking place on the seafront, which was very busy due to the rugby. No sign of police all day, lookey men were having a field day.
The bye laws were always there but the PP chose not to pursue them. More interested in raising revenue by fining businesses than keeping citizens and tourists safe. They have some cheek complaining now after ignoring calls to clean up Calvia for four years.