The coordination between security forces for the next festivities of San Bernabé, which will be held from 7 to 12 June, has been the guiding thread of the Local Security Board held this morning in the City of Logroño, presided over by the delegate of the Government of Spain in La Rioja, Beatriz Arraiz Nalda, and the mayor of the Riojan capital, Conrado Escobar.
The delegate has detailed that the device is similar to that of San Mateo and therefore, it has been foreseen that the number of personnel of the Superior Police Headquarters of La Rioja amounts to 290, with the participation of the 5 brigades - information, judicial police, citizen security, foreigners and borders and scientific police.
As Arraiz Nalda has specified, the main objective of the security device is prevention and, where appropriate, reaction to any situation that may alter security during these holidays in which a greater influx of people in the city is expected.
To this end, the National Police will establish anti-terrorist prevention mechanisms, especially in processions and various mass events with the Prevention and Reaction Unit (UPR). As in previous years, the Tedax will carry out preventive work with the revision of urban furniture.
The delegate has highlighted as a novelty of this year that the Judicial Police officers who will patrol in civilian areas in prevention of the action of itinerant groups specialized in theft of mobile phones and wallets will be increased.
On the other hand, and according to level 4 of security, the surveillance of different points of the city will be strengthened, such as the train and bus stations, where agents of the Mobile Brigade will control the documentation of travelers in the face of the expected increase of visitors during San Bernabé. The reinforcement will also be deployed to control the prevention of citizen security, illegal possession of weapons and drug consumption in different areas of Logroño, such as leisure areas, and in the alcohol controls, in which the National Police will carry out citizen security tasks, thus providing support to the Local Police.
Another aspect to take into consideration is the improvement that will be given to visitors with the incorporation of French and Portuguese police, who together with agents of the National Police will patrol around the city.
For his part, the mayor of Logroño has pointed out that “the collaboration between both administrations and the Local and National Police bodies themselves is established, once again, to ensure that the festivities of San Bernabé, declared of National Tourist Interest, have the optimal levels of security. And the main objective of this device is prevention and, where appropriate, reaction to any situation that may alter the security of citizens.”
“In this sense, we start from the basis that Logroño is a safe city, but at this time it will have a strengthening of security, not always visible, but always effective,” said Escobar.
The device enabled by the Local Police will have an average of 140 agents each day distributed between holidays and working days, with the consequent reinforcement if appropriate for the needs of the service.
During these days, foot patrols will be carried out in the main recreational and festive activities and the controls of alcohol and other substances will be intensified, in addition to continuing with different actions that are being carried out in the face of uncivil acts, within the shock plan to improve the habitability in the Old Town.
In addition, the Local Police will carry out the appropriate traffic cuts in those activities that require it and will control the entry and exit of bullfighting and pyrotechnic celebrations, not forgetting that it will also participate in the security device of four electoral colleges (City Hall, Casa de las Ciencias, CEIP San Pío X and CEIP Varia) on the occasion of the elections to the European Parliament on June 9.
Finally, the National Police will work together with the Local Police with civilian and uniformed officers to ensure that this event takes place without incident.
Both administrations have also analyzed different aspects of security in areas such as Varea, Casco Antiguo, etc.