Virginia Barcones presents the Safe Trade Plan for this Christmas in Castilla y León

• The measure involves more than 3,000 National Police and Civil Guard officers in those scenarios where the largest public influx is expected • It takes place in two phases, the previous one, from 17 to 30 November, and the current phase, the operational phase, which began on 1 December and will extend until 8 January

January 11, 2023.- The delegate of the Government, Virginia Barcones, has presented the Safe Trade Plan for this Christmas in Castilla y León. This plan implies a strengthening of the police presence in those scenarios where a greater influx of public is expected.

Virginia Barcones has made the presentation in one of the most important shopping streets of Castilla y León, Santiago de Valladolid Street. She has been accompanied by the Subdelegate of the Government in Valladolid, Alicia Villar; the Superior Chief of Police of Castilla y León, Juan Carlos Hernández Muñoz; the Colonel and Accidental Chief of the XII Zone of the Civil Guard, Julio Andrés Gutiérrez Hernández; the Councillor for Public Health and Citizen Security of the City of Valladolid, Alberto Square and the Chief Superintendent of the Local Police of Valladolid, Julia González. There have also been representatives of the Association of owners and entrepreneurs of the polygons of Argales and Cerro de San Cristobal, AVADECO, FECOSVA, CEOE Valladolid, the Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Hotel and Catering Entrepreneurs of Valladolid.

More than 3,000 officers of the National Police and Civil Guard in rural areas, as well as Local Police, are directly involved throughout the Community in this special device whose objective is to strengthen security and prevent the commission of crimes that both merchants and customers are victims of, mainly, theft, robbery with violence and intimidation, robbery with force and fraud. In the case of Valladolid, where the presentation took place, he pointed out that there will be 300 National Police officers and 300 Civil Guard officers, covering the latter, for example, the Rio Shopping shopping shopping complex.

It will take place in a few days when commercial activity increases and there are crowds of people, including storage or distribution places, which can be subject to robbery with force. The Plan also addresses the problems associated with illicit sales of precious metals, as well as theft and robbery in food establishments.

The device is deployed in both urban and rural areas. The action focuses especially on those in which the greatest concentration of people is given by the increase in the commercial activity typical of Christmas, either in shopping centers, in the traditional commerce of the center or in the Christmas markets that are established at this time.

The government delegate took advantage of the presentation to ask all Castilians and Leoneses for their collaboration, “to take precautions and follow the recommendations about the use of bank cards, Internet purchases, custody of personal objects, protection of homes and establishments, conduct in agglomerations and generally good business practices” she insisted.

A TWO-PHASE PLAN

The device ‘Secure Trade, Christmas campaign 2023-2024’ is developed in two phases.

In the previous phase - from 17 to 30 November - police officers have held meetings with merchants and citizen groups to inform them about preventive advice, receive suggestions and needs and seek citizen collaboration that can provide useful information for agents and investigators.

The operational phase of police presence on the street has begun on December 1 and will continue until January 8, 2024.

SAFE TRADE GUIDE

The National Police offers these days the Safe Trade Guide in which they give guidelines for action to favor the security of businesses, know how to act in the face of criminal acts, how to file a complaint and how to safely use the means of payment and electronic commerce.

In the face of a criminal act, the recommendation is to notify the National Police, calling 091; request witnesses to remain in the place until the agents arrive; provide the Police with all the information about what happened and avoid manipulating any object.

For the owners or employees of the businesses, it is recalled that, if they observe the door of the forced or open premises, they should never enter, directly call the National Police, at 091, without trying to enter.

Complaints can be lodged in person at the National Police Stations; on the Internet, at the Virtual Complaints Office, or in situ, at the establishments attached to the protocol.

The recommendations contained in the business guide include the following:

• As for the means of payment, prioritize the use of electronic means of payment; do not accumulate money in the boxes and have detectors of false tickets, among others.
• Regarding e-commerce, keep the website and server updated and contract the means and payment gateways with recognized banking entities.
• During business hours, pay attention to people who have a vigilant attitude and to those who hide their face; control the objects of greater value; extreme caution in times of maximum influx; do not make hasty payments of supposed orders to suppliers and distrust easy business offers.
• To enter the collection, choose a bank office near the establishment, distribute the money in the clothes and avoid routines on the way to the bank.
• During distribution, it is recommended to install devices that allow the means of transport to be located, not to spread the content of the load or its value, and to modify the routes and routines of the transport.
• Finally, if you decide to install any security measures in the establishment, it is advisable to always resort to professionals authorized by the National Police.

More information can be requested at the National Police stations, through the Citizen Participation delegate or by writing to the participating email@policia.es

CUSTOMER TIPS

The crowds in the commercial establishments, in the Christmas markets and in the commercial axes at peak hours are the breeding ground for pickpockets, wallets or mobile phones to be stolen by pickpockets and carelessness.

This type of bands usually act as a group and take advantage of any distraction or neglect of our belongings.

The National Police also offers a series of simple tips that citizens can adopt to reduce their chances of being the victim of a crime of theft or fraud:

If we are going to make purchases or walk, let’s take the cross bag as a crossbody bag, placed in front and with the zipper closed.

• We can dispense with the bag and distribute the money, cards and documentation in the inner pockets of the outerwear. Never in the back pockets of the trousers.
• If someone stumbles upon you, check that your wallet has not been removed.
• In a bar or nightclub, let’s try to leave our clothes in the closet. If the establishment does not have this service, do not lose sight of our effects.
• If we are going to leave the table without leaving the bag alone, one of the people in the group can take care of storing it.
• Do not leave the mobile on the bar or table of the premises.
• As for credit cards, make transactions when and where you feel safe.
• Cover the keyboard with your hand at the moment when you are entering the key on the keyboard.
• Always collect the receipt as it contains information about your bank account.

AN EFFECTIVE PLAN

Virginia Barcones stressed that since the implementation of the Safe Trade Plan, in 2013, and its establishment as a permanent program, in 2017, its effectiveness has been observed and the good reception among the sectors involved, the associations of merchants, small and medium-sized enterprises dedicated to trade and hospitality, as well as all citizens, who value the initiative positively. “We all agree that increasing police presence in commercial areas decreases the risk of crime and also improves the speed and effectiveness of police intervention when it occurs,” he said.

For this reason, Virginia Barcones is grateful for “the effort” made by the State Security Corps and Forces as well as the local police for the correct development of this plan.