The National Police have applied 'Operation Armour' in Playa de Palma. Over one hundred officers on the island have been reinforced by others from the mainland. A local businessman acknowledges the efforts, but points out that Palma Police don't have the resources to enforce municipal bylaws. "These aren't the job of the National Police."
Palma town hall accepts that there is a shortage of police. A representative of the former administration says that the pandemic hampered recruitment. The campaigns for recruiting new officers had to be put on hold. "In the last year we managed to increase numbers, but it is clear that the needs are different and that Playa de Palma requires more deployment during the tourism season."
Businesspeople and residents agree that the illegal sale of alcohol is one of the biggest problems. The proprietor of a pub in the Balneario 6 area says: "The supermarkets reckon that they stick to the hours, but everyone knows that this isn't the case. They do what they want and that encourages alcohol consumption in an uncontrolled way."
A hotel employee points out that it is the most normal thing in the world that visitors want to have a good time. "That is basically good for everyone. The problem is what then happens on the streets."
The street drinking isn't just by small groups of people. Large gatherings can form at any time, the drink coming from tourist supermarkets where alcohol dominates the shelves. There are also the street sellers of beer and cocktails. The activity is totally illegal. The pub owner stresses that this escapes any form of health control. "Tourists don't know what they're drinking. It's very dangerous."
While there have been advances in tackling pickpockets and the so-called prostitutes (muggers in reality), this isn't the case with the illegal sale of alcohol and the large street drinking parties. Municipal ordinance is clear enough; the drinking of alcohol on the streets is prohibited, but the ban is ignored.
One resident says that the town hall takes in millions from taxes paid in Playa de Palma but that this doesn't result in the service which should be provided. "It's been clear for a long time that it is necessary to increase local police numbers. I don't know what we're waiting for."
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So how many long established, many well run , family owned and long-standing beach bars have closed in Majorca by the Costa and environmental beach police. now the lucky lucky traders fill their place. No standards no hygiene no toilets except for the occasional unfortunate sleeping Dutch man. Not the paradise reclaimed as intended.
Use the tourist tax to employ more police down playa de Palma with caged vehicles and round up the idiots back to the airline that flew then in. The spectacle of liberal on street boozing viewed in June was totally not desirable
Well done to the photographer. He captured all three of the police officers in the Playa de Palma force in one shot! Miraculous, as they are usually invisible!
Tourists, shps and bars flouting the rules on alcohol, who would have thought it.